YOUNG CALVES NEED REST 259 



started to scour from some fermentation of the milk it has 

 dnink. Eggs do not ferment as does milk because they contain 

 no sugar. While eggs spoil readily enough, the germ of egg 

 decomposition is not the same as those germs that infest the in- 

 testines of calves ; thus eggs are often a safe substitute for part or 

 all of the milk for a few meals for calves suffering from scours. 



Bone meal is found to be a good substance to mix with salt for 

 young cattle. Some feeds are deficient in the bone-forming ele- 

 ments. This possible deficiency can be insured against by the 

 feeding of a very moderate amount of bone meal. 



It has been sho^\Ti experimentally that an addition of ash 

 to the ration of growing animals increases the size and the 

 strengih of the bone. An excess over absolute needs does no 

 harm even if continued through the whole growing period. 



Water should be available to growing stock at all times 

 or at least be made available at least three times a day. 



Young Calves Need Rest — The size of calf pens need 

 not be greater than 6X8 feet in which not to exceed three calves 

 should be kept. Individual pens only about 4X4 feet in size 

 are preferable for very young calves, especially those of the Jersey 

 and Guernsey breeds. A young calf is an infant and requires 

 much rest. If placed in a pen where there are several older 

 calves he is jostled about until thoroughly fatigued. Young 

 calves doing very poorly under such conditions often pick up 

 rapidly when placed in small individual pens. 



The floor of calf pens should be of some water-tight mate- 

 rial which will not conduct heat readily. A cement floor is 

 most easily cleaned, yet it is exceedingly hard on the young 

 calf, as it becomes wet so quickly. It may be cold unless very 

 heavily bedded or insulated as described in Chapter XXI. 

 Tender cow-babies should not be compelled to lie where their 

 soft warm stomachs may be chilled. This often causes diar- 

 rhea which results in increased cost in raising the calf and 

 produces an animal of less value. If a cement floor is used 

 it should be overlaid with plank, cork-brick or creosoted blocks, 

 or should "be insulated the same as that part of the general 

 stable floor upon which the cows must stand and lie. 



Good light, and free circulation of air are so desirable in 



