CALVES FROM DIRTH UNTIL ONE YEAR OLD 2>7 



or vetches alone or in conjunction ; and summer grazing 

 can probably be best furnished by Bermuda grass and 

 cowpeas. In order to provide continuous grazing it is 

 necessary to have at least two inclosures of suitable size 

 set apart for the purpose. If the grazing gets beyond 

 the ability of the calves to keep it down, the mower 

 should be used on it. In the autumn, rowen from the 

 meadows may furnish suitable grazing for calves that 

 are weaned. 



Where grazing cannot be had, soiling can usually 

 be secured. Soiling food can usually be provided, and 

 plentiful in supply from a relatively small area. As a 

 matter of convenience, the aim should be to grow it 

 near to the farm steading. Some herdsmen prefer to 

 follow this plan, especially when the aim is to secure 

 maximum growth and finish in the calves, but when 

 animals for breeding are thus grown the benefit that 

 would accrue from taking free exercise on the pastures 

 is lost. Where cultivation is intensive, this method of 

 growing green food calls for considerably less land 

 relatively than the other. 



Many plants may be used in furnishing such soil- 

 ing. In the North, the list includes alfalfa, common 

 red clover, the Canada field pea, or the common vetch, 

 and oats, or all three grown together, dwarf Essex rape, 

 fall turnips, corn, and sorghum. As the legumes fur- 

 nish the most suitable soiling food, the aim should be 

 to grow them in preference to other plants as far as 

 practicable. Where alfalfa grows well, it has highest 

 adaptation among these plants. Next to it in this 

 respect, probably, is dwarf Essex rape. This wonder- 

 ful forage plant is far too little used in providing either 

 grazing or soiling food for calves. In the South, alfalfa, 

 grain, and vetches grown together, cowpeas, corn, and 

 the sorghums may all be used. But corn and also the 

 sorghums should be sown so thickly as to furnish fodder 

 fine rather than coarse. 



