GROWING AND FITTING CATTLE FOR EXHIBITION 309 



This, of course, is accomplished by feeding the dam 

 foods rich in protein and possessed of the desired suc- 

 culence. As soon as it is clear that the calf will take 

 more milk than the dam furnishes, the aid of a nurse cow 

 should be sought to furnish milk that will supplement 

 that of the dam. This, though it may be expensive, is 

 expedient, for the reason that no food has been found 

 equal to new milk in promoting large and mellow growth 

 during the first year of the calf's life. 



The calves are allowed to nurse until 12 months old, 

 and, in some instances, until 15 months. This is gauged 

 largely by the date at which the calves are put on ex- 

 hibition, as, except in the junior classes, milk is usually 

 withheld on the return from the fairs. Its withdrawal 

 at such a time becomes one element of reduction in the 

 forcing process that has been found a necessity with 

 animals that are to be shown the following year. 



It is of vital importance that the nurse cow chosen 

 shall be healthy and sound in every respect. It is 

 especially important that she shall be free from tuber- 

 culosis, or the danger will be present that the disease 

 may be transmitted to the calf and thus destroy its 

 chances of being a winner in the show ring, especially 

 after the first season. The future of many an animal 

 of rare promise in the beef cattle classes has been blasted 

 in this way. 



The nurse cow should be of a quiet disposition, 

 otherwise she may resent the nursing of a large, strong 

 calf and the rough bunting of the udder which is an 

 accompaniment of his nursing. It is not every cow, by 

 any means, that can be trained to allow such a calf to 

 take milk from her. Moreover, she should be a large 

 producer of milk and a persistent milker in order to 

 furnish milk for a period sufficiently long. Suppose she 

 is introduced at the end of the fourth month, and the 

 calf is allowed to suck until 12 months old, she would 

 be required to furnish milk for eight months. If the calf 



