10 TilE MANAGEjMENT AND FEEDING OF CATTLE 



reared with a view to furnish beef only, the longer period 

 should be preferred. When reared to provide both meat 

 and milk, the intermediate period should prove satisfac- 

 tory. Thus calves reared for dairy uses may be taking 

 skim milk only at four weeks from birth, calves of the 

 dual type at six weeks, and for beef uses only at eight 

 weeks. But the inherent ^'igor of the calf as indicated 

 in capacity for growth may furnish sufficient reason for 

 lengthening or shortening those periods with all three 

 classes. A calf with strong digestive capacity may be 

 put on a less nutritious diet without any serious hin- 

 drance to development much more quickly than one with 

 weak digestive capacity. 



While on whole milk, the calves usually recjuire no 

 other food, such as meal or fodder. The digestion of 

 the young animal is not yet prepared to utilize such 

 food, at least until the calf has reached the age of two or 

 three weeks. The whole milk thus given should be fed 

 as soon as practicable after taking it from the cow, that 

 it may reach the calf while yet fresh and without diminu- 

 tion of temperature. When fed more frequentlv than 

 morning and evening, as it ought to be to calves so 

 young (see page 17), to feed the milk at the proper 

 temperature will call for heating. This should not be 

 neglected, as close attention to all details in feeding the 

 young calf will be abundantly rewarded. 



The change from whole to skim milk is made bv 

 withholding a small amount of milk the first day, a 

 larger amount the second day, and a still larger amount 

 the third. The amount withheld is thus gradually in- 

 creased from day to day, and in a way that will insure 

 complete change from all whole milk to all skim milk 

 within the time fixed upon to effect such change. An 

 amount of skim milk must lie added, at least equal to 

 the quantity of new milk withheld, until the change has 

 been completed. 



