328 The Feeding of Animals 



often causes a serious disturbance of the calf's diges- 

 tive organs, but the fact remains that casein, milk fat 

 and milk sugar are adapted through Nature's design 

 to the digestive processes and the nutrition of young 

 animals. Moreover, milk is rich in the mineral com- 

 pounds needed for bone formation. When, therefore, 

 it becomes necessary or desirable to substitute other 

 food for the mother's milk, it is essential not to act 

 counter to physiological necessities and conditions. 



One fact of importance is that the very young ani- 

 mal is somewhat undeveloped in its capacity to digest 

 the starchy grains and similar substances, the secre- 

 tions necessary for this purpose not yet being abundant. 

 It follows, then, that the first substitute for whole 

 milk should not consist largely of the insoluble carbohy- 

 drates, like porridge from any of the cereals. Again, 

 the young animal's stomach is at first unfitted for re- 

 ceiving and utilizing bulky, fibrous food. Some time 

 must elapse before the calf or colt can be expected 

 to obtain much nourishment from grass, hay or like 

 materials. 



THE FEEDING OF CALVES 



The most successful way of feeding calves to secure 

 rapid growth, especially to produce veal of the highest 

 quality, is to supply them with the mother's milk up 

 to the limit of their capacity. Where they are to be 

 raised for stock purposes, satisfactory growth may be 

 maintained with the use of substitutes for whole milk, 

 which is fortunate, because with the exception of the 

 western plains, where cows are cheaply kept simply 



