REARING CALVES, 



439 



Without calling in the assistance of hay-tea, consequently, by 

 bringing up on milk for seven weeks, and giving forage as soon as 

 possible, it is obvious that we obtain results as fully as good as those 

 of M. Perrault. 



I have said that it was during the period when calves are suck- 

 ing, or receiving a regular allowance of milk, that the increase of 

 weight was most rapid. As the animal approaches the term of its 

 complete development, the weight, in an equal interval of time, 

 increases at a progressively diminishing rate ; but from the data 

 which I have collected, but which are not very extensive, it appears 

 that the increase is very regular until the Ml growth is attained. 

 From this period the animal continues stationary if he merely 

 receives the ration of maintenance ; any variation observed is purely 

 accidental, and loss or gain one day is compensated by gain or loss 

 on another. The adult animal, which does not lay on fat, thus 

 acquires a standard weight, which is preserved for a term of years 

 unchanged, until the period of decrepitude and decay arrives. 



It is not unimportant to ascertain the progressive increase in 

 weight of cattle ; the balance is a means which the breeder and 

 feeder ought not to neglect ; it is a powerful check upon his ser- 

 vants, and a sure tell-tale in regard to the state of the stock at any 

 moment. A conscientious herdsman is a most precious person on a 

 farm ; but the more I study breeding and feeding, the more I am 

 satisfied that the most trustworthy agent of all is the balance. Fre- 

 quent weighings are necessary, in order to keep a regular account 

 of the state of the cow-houses. I here append such absolute obser- 

 vations as I have made on the increase of weight in horned cattle, 

 with an expression of regret that I have not been able to present my 

 reader with more numerous data.* 



Names of Beasts. 



Weight at Age when Weight at Increase 

 birth weighed, this time, per diem 



Victoria . . . 



Ditto 



Susan 



Ditto 



Gallop . . . . 



Ditto 



Ditto 



Schwartz.. 



Sophy 



Migaonne. • 



Ditto 



Margot ..• 



®itto 



Ditto 



James 



Ditto 



Ditto 



lbs. 

 82 



80 



Davs. 



56 



156 



168 

 168 



82 

 164 

 264 



88 

 102 



108 

 190 

 290 

 119 

 201 

 801 



lbs. 

 180 

 288 

 1T6 

 270 

 178 

 254 



254 



216 

 812 

 224 



804 

 482 

 216 

 284 

 452 



lbs. 

 1.98 

 1.45 

 1.55 

 1.26 

 1.21 

 1.48 

 1.59 

 1.47 

 1.76 

 1.84 

 1.56 

 1.88 

 1.56 

 1.88 

 1.25 

 1.07 

 1.82 



Under a year old. 



direct analysis that 100 of this dry matter contains 40 of azot« : so that 100 of milk 

 contains 0.50 azote. This shows that 280 of milk are required to replace 100 of good 

 meadow hay, containing 150 azote. 



* As the weights were merely relative, I have neglected the fractions in turning 

 the French Kilogramme into avolrd. pounds. I have, however, given the true inora- 

 toents of weights per diem. — Eno. Ed. 



