CHAPTER XXV. 



SKIM -MILK CALVES 



THE SKIM-MILK CALF NOT POPULAR 



The mere mention of the skim-milk calf in connection 

 with beef production is sure to call forth a derisive smile 

 from the majority of western and middle western cattle- 

 men. To them the skim-milk calf means a stunted, 

 paper skinned, pot bellied petite bovine; a fit subject 

 for ridicule, but hardly worth bothering with in the feed 

 lot. Nor has the western cattleman shot wide of the 

 mark. The average skim-milk calf is not "a thing of 

 beauty and a j oy forever. ' ' Notwithstanding these facts 

 he is with us and his number is very likely to increase. 

 Not all skim-milk calves are bad. Occasionally a calf 

 thus reared makes a good account of himself and de- 

 mands the respect of beef purists. It may be assumed 

 then that there is a right and a wrong way to rear skim- 

 milk calves. 



NOT ALL BAD 



The Nebraska Experiment Station in Bulletin 68 

 reports the result of an experiment conducted primarily 

 to show the profit of raising skim-milk calves on separa- 

 tor milk as compared with that derived from allowing 

 them to nurse their dams. It is interesting to note the 

 author's observations on these calves which are in sub- 

 stance as follows : At six months of age the calves that 

 had nursed their dams could be distinguished by their 

 better coats and rounder forms from those that had 

 been fed on skim-milk, but at the age of one year this 

 difference could not be detected, and stockmen un- 

 familiar with the individuals could not pick out the 



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