666 



DAIRYING. 



they will be fit to be turned out in the pastures in good form, which 

 can hardly be realized unless they are dropped early. 



There is no point upon which there is a greater unanimity of 

 opinion among competent and experienced farmers, than that of 

 giving calves as good a start as possible in life. 



For the first two or three weeks young calves destined for dairy 

 cows can profitably be allowed all the new milk they want ; after 

 this period they may be fed on skim-milk, which; however, should 

 by all means be improved by ground linseed, or similar prepara- 

 tions, with ground wheat or oatmeal added. These additions %q 

 the skim-milk should be boiled or steamed, and not given raw to 

 the calves, being in the former condition more easily digested. 



While no very definite rule can be laid down for feeding calves, 

 it may be generally stated that for the first two or three days two 

 to three quarts of mother's milk per day will be sufficient, which 

 may be increased to four or five quarts by the end of the first week, 

 to six or eight in the second week, and to nine or ten by the end of 

 the first month. These quantities refer to new milk, or to its equiv- 

 alent, and to a full-sized and healthy calf. 



Fig. 820.— Nose-piece. Fig. 821.-^Nose-piece in Use. 



Fig. 822.— Spiked Halter. 



Young calves will, by the time they are two or three weeks old, 

 begin to nibble a little sweet green hay, if it is given to them in 

 racks or nets, and it is well to get them wonted to nibble it at an 

 early stage. By suspending a netful of hay so that it dangles in 

 front of them, they will get to rubbing their noses against it, and 

 this will lead to nibbling it. j 



The practice of giving " hay tea " to young calves along with 

 the milk, in order to get them used to a hay diet before they are 

 able to eat the hay for themselves, is one that has proved very ben- 

 eficial, as the calves get all the nutriment contained in,the hay with- 



