6 BULLETIN 49, TJ. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



Table II. — Quantity of feed per day fed during different months to a yearly 

 average of 20J { 2 head of calves. 



Yeai 



and month. 



Average 



number 

 fed. 



Whole 

 milk. 



Skim 

 milk. 



Mixed 



hay. 



Corn 



silage. 



Grain 

 mixture. 



Pasture. 





1909. 



6.3 

 18 

 22 

 23 



23 



23 



23 



23 



23 



20.7 



20 



20 



Pounds. 



11.6 



6.2 



1.3 



.5 



.2 



Pounds. 

 0.1 

 2.9 

 9.3 

 10.5 



14.5 

 11.8 

 11.8 

 18.8 

 12.4 

 1.8 



Pounds. 



Pounds. 



Pounds. 



Days. 





0.4 



l.s 



3.0 

 3.1 

 4.8 

 4.2 

 5.5 

 12.3 



0.3 



3.4 

 1.8 

 2.0 



2.4 



2.4 

 2.4 

 2.1 

 2.1 



■ 7 















1910. 



1.2 

 1.7 

 1.2 

 2.3 

 2.8 

 1.1 

























31 







30 



July 





31 















31 



















Total 



342 



3,165 



857 



353 



547 



123 











1 Alfalfa hav. 



It is interesting to note the addition of corn silage in the fifth 

 month, which provides bulk and succulence. The grain mixture con- 

 sists of three different concentrates in approximately the ratio of 

 4 parts of bran, 5 parts of oats, and 1 part of oil meal. There was 

 little variation in the composition of the mixtures for the different 

 months. It is an important item in the ration during the entire 

 feeding period. The variation in the quantity of different feeds is 

 largely due to natural variations in the needs of the growing 

 calves. 



COST OF FEED FOR THE FIRST YEAR. 



In Table III is presented the cost of the different feeds, to show the 

 relative importance of these feeds for each month in making up the 

 total feed cost for the year. The most expensive period in the calf's 

 life is during the time it is wholly or in part dependent upon whole 

 milk. The feed cost alone for the calf up to 6 weeks of age is about 

 $5.50, and when 8 weeks old $6, which represents 22^ and 24| per 

 cent, respectively, of the yearly cost of $24.58. It is the practice 

 with some farmers to sell calves for veal when from 6 to 8 weeks 

 old, and, although where this is the practice the calves are fed a 

 larger proportion of whole milk and the feed cost thereby increased, 

 these figures on the feed cost for veal are suggestive. 



Inasmuch as the farm affords a wide range of woodland pasture, 

 the calves are turned out about as early as the grass starts to grow, 

 which is about May 1 in most years. However, it is necessary to 

 continue feeding a full ration in the barn for nearly a month and 

 then gradually to reduce the quantity until the pasture will furnish 

 a full feed. From June 10 until fall the calves are wholly dependent 



