30 THE MANAGEMENT AND FEEDING OF CATTLE 



be SO to prepare the calves for being weaned that this 

 loss of flesh wonld be entirely prevented or at least re- 

 duced to a minimum. This can best be done b}' having 

 them so accustomed to the adjuncts that accompany 

 the feeding of milk, especially during the later stages 

 of the milk period, that the withholding of the milk will 

 be no serious deprivation. If flesh is lost subsequent 

 to the weaning, there is not only a loss in weight, but 

 a distinctive loss in the sappy flesh known as milk or 

 calf flesh, which it is almost impossible to restore. Sub- 

 sequent grain feeding may result in the carrying of an 

 increased quantity of flesh, but it is harder and less 

 sappy than the calf flesh. 



The age at which calves are weaned has an im- 

 portant bearing on the results that follow weaning. The 

 older that calves are when weaned, the less do they feel 

 the deprivation when milk is withheld from them. 

 Theoretically, therefore, it would follow that the wean- 

 ing period should be deferred as long as possible, but 

 in practice there may be good reasons for shortening it, 

 as, for instance, a shortage in milk in the case of hand- 

 fed calves, and a desire to spare the dams in the case 

 of those that suck. As previously intimated, calves 

 hand-fed are usually weaned at about six or between 

 the ages of five and seven months. 



When weaning hand-fed calves, the milk should 

 be reduced gradual!}^ rather than taken away suddenly. 

 This may be done by reducing the quantity of each feed, 

 or by withholding one of the two feeds, or by combining 

 the two processes. When done in this way, the total 

 withdrawal of the milk will scarceh^ be noticed by the 

 calf, and will not affect it adversely. The time to be 

 occupied in the weaning process is influenced by the 

 age of the calf. The younger the calf, the more gradual 

 should be the weaning. It may usually be accomplished 

 in one week, and in no instance would it seem necessary 

 to prolong it to more than two weeks. 



