116 BEEF PRODUCTION 



calf growing like the mother's milk. In pleasant 

 weather they should run out on pasture where they can 

 get plenty of fresh air and sunshine, but care should 

 be taken that they do not get too much exposure during 

 storms. They should not be permitted to lie down in 

 cold, damp places where they are apt to catch cold. 

 When the winter comes on, the calves should be housed 

 in roomy pens with plenty of air and sunshine, and pro- 

 vided with a dry bed. During good weather they 

 should be allowed the run of a sheltered lot provided 

 with good water. At the age of from six to eight weeks 

 they should be gradually started on a gram ration con- 

 sisting of equal parts of shelled corn, whole oats, and 

 bran, with all the clean clover or alfalfa hay they will 

 clean up. 



At an early age the calves should be familiarized with 

 grooming. This not only keeps the coat in a better con- 

 dition, but also gets the animals used to handling, which 

 will save a great deal of time and trouble later on. 



In the spring the calves should be put on grass, at 

 first only for an hour or so during the middle of the day, 

 and later on should be turned into the grass lot at night. 

 This change to grass may be a period of little gain, but 

 the grass cools their system and prepares them for the 

 heavy feeding which is to follow. During the hot sum- 

 mer months they should be allowed to run in the pas- 

 ture at night, but through the heat of the day they 

 should be protected from the heat and flies by being 

 kept in a cool, well ventilated stable. Some feeders 

 further protect them from flies by keeping them blank- 

 eted, and by darkening the stables as much as possible 

 without interfering with ventilation. 



When the animal is to 7 ,je shown in the fall, there is a 

 difference of opinion as to how soon it should be taken 

 off the pasture, but it should certainly be taken in before 

 the middle of the summer. This period between the 

 time of removing from pasture until the time of the 

 show, and especially during the last six weeks, is a time 



