RAISING DAIRY CATTLE 



281 



If the cow is a heavy milker the calf should not be allowed to gorge 

 lest scours result. After each feeding the cow should be stripped 

 clean. When the cow 's udder is caked, leaving the calf with her will 

 aid in reducing inflammation. 



The calf is best taught to drink milk from the pail by using the 

 fingers. If it goes 12 to 24 hours without being fed, or until it be- 

 comes genuinely hungry, much less difficulty will be experienced in 

 the first lesson. Many of the calf feeding devices on the market are 

 unsatisfactory, and all are dangerous unless extreme care is exer- 

 cised in cleansing and sterilizing them. 



Fig. 78. — Thrifty, Promising Heifers Eaised on Skim Milk 

 With proper feeding and care, skim milk calves develop into just as good cows 

 as those fed whole milk until weaning time. (From Wisconsin Station.) 



The young calf has a small stomach and naturally takes milk fre- 

 quently and in small quantities. Too large an allowance of milk 

 produces indigestion and scours. For the first day or two only 5 to 

 6 lbs. should be fed, or somewhat more for a large, lusty calf, the 

 allowance being divided between 2 feedings, tho some advocate feed- 

 ing 3 or 4 times a day at first. The milk should be as fresh as pos- 

 sible and at blood heat, as determined by a thermometer. The allow- 

 ance of milk should be gradually increased, but over-feeding, a com- 

 mon cause of poor success in calf rearing, should be avoided. A 



