PREPARING FOR THE SHOWjRING. 



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their dams at from one to three days old ; fed on their mothers' milk three times 

 a day for one week, twice a day after that. We continue to feed new milk for 

 three weeks, then make a gradual change to sweet skim ; as we start to change 

 we add a little oil meal, scalded, with enough water added to heat the milk to 

 blood temperature ; as the new milk is withdrawn the oil meal is increased in 

 such proportions as to make a good substitute for the cream. Sweet hay is 

 placed before them and often changed. Bran is put in a box when they can eat, 

 but this also must be often changed. As soon as they learn to eat nicely only 

 so much is given as will be eaten up clean. A little meal is added at three 

 weeks old. One part peas, one part oats, and one part barley, the other part 

 bran, forms a very good mixture for calves, given three times a day in such 

 quantities as will be eaten up clean before the next meal. Never allow food in 

 a manger over one meal, give less. Pulped roots should also be given, or ensil- 

 age, enough to keep the bowels nice and open. Feed enough milk and oil cake, 

 scalded, twice a day so that they need no other drink except for the noon meal; 

 give water as the calf grows older and the weather warm. At six months old 

 all our calves are weaned except our show calves. They are now carefully 

 looked over and the ones coming nearest to our ideal are fitted for the show ; 

 in this we use no forcing system. Our calves now eat well ; the milk is con- 

 tinued till after the exhibitions. The meal ration is a little changed, a little 

 more concentrated food added, but always feed half bran. They can eat as 

 much as they like and it will never hurt them. Our object is not to get them 

 fat, but in good condition, to keep them vigorous and growing, form lots of 

 bone and muscle, and have a nice loose, mellow skin with soft hair. The age I 

 consider most suitable for showing calves is from seven to nine months old. 



" Yearling heifers if raised in the manner described, and kept well through 

 the winter, require nothing but good pasture and plenty of water until the first 

 of July or later if in good condition. We have repeatedly taken heifers out of 

 pasture, with little or no fitting, and won honor prizes. When pasture is scant, 

 four quarts meal, two parts peas, two parts oats, one part bran, and one part 

 oil cake will soon put them in good shape, with fodder corn added (we also 

 like fodder corn for the calves as soon as in season). The best age to show a 

 yearling is about twenty months old, bred to be starting to spring at show 

 time. Two year-olds need careful attention ; they should be in good condition 

 before calving, which should be in the end of June ; this will give them a grand 



