32 THE MANAGEMENT AND FEEDING OF CATTLE 



standard meal ration (see page 21), will be quite suit- 

 able for the former, but the latter should be given more 

 relatively of fat-producing food for a time than the 

 standard ration calls for to counteract the tendency to 

 lose flesh. 



Management subsequent to weaning. — Calves that 

 come in the autumn are weaned or are ready to wean 

 by the time that fresh pasture comes in the spring. 

 When this can be abundantly supplied, it settles the 

 question meanwhile, as to fodder, that is, as to the bulky 

 portion of the food given. No other kind of bulky food 

 can be given while grass is succulent that is superior 

 to it. Of course, some attention is necessary to guard 

 against a too lax condition of the bowels caused by the 

 tender grass, but, in most instances, the grain or meal 

 that is fed will sufficiently counteract this tendency. 



Whether the meal portion of the food shall be con- 

 tinued will depend to some extent upon the attendant 

 conditions. Pure calves of the beef breeds, being made 

 ready for autumn sale, should get enough of grain or 

 meal to keep them well fleshed. The same is true of 

 calves to be matured early for beef; calves retained for 

 breeding uses of the beef types should be given a less 

 amount and calves for the dairy may sometimes be 

 carried through the summer without grain. But in no in- 

 stance should calves for breeding uses be allowed to con- 

 sume all the grain that they will take, first, on the ground 

 of economy, as grass is usually cheaper than grain, and, 

 second that there is hazard that the digestive organs 

 shall be overtaxed. For feeding at this time no meal 

 mixture is superior to the standard mixture mentioned 

 on page 21, but, if desired, the oil meal may be sup- 

 planted by an equal amount of oats while grass is plen- 

 tiful. If one kind of grain only is fed, while the grass 

 is plentiful and succulent neither roots nor ensilage is 

 necessary. 



