BREEDING BEEF CATTLE 315 



the south is sufficient except in very cold climates. Pregnant 

 cows thus cared for will come through the winter in good con- 

 dition and give birth to a strong thrifty calf that, if bred right, 

 will make a profitable feeder. 



Cow with calf at foot. — The cow that is to suckle her young 

 need not receive the extra care that must be accorded the 

 dairy cow. When the calves are dropped in the spring and 

 the pasture is of good quality and abundant, the cows and 

 calves will require very little attention during the pasture 

 season. If, however, the pasture becomes short in late sum- 

 mer and fall, extra feed, such as clover, alfalfa, green forage, 

 or grain of some kind, should be given. Cows and calves at 

 pasture should have free access to fresh water. Salt should 

 be supplied at regular intervals or kept before them at all 

 times. Shade of some kind should he provided in the absence 

 of trees. 



As soon as convenient the calves should be taught to eat 

 grain. This ma,y be done by arranging a small pen with 

 small gates or passages . through which the calyes may enter 

 but the cows cannot. The pen may be placed near the water 

 tank. By all means calves should be taught to eat grain 

 before being weaned, as this will prevent shrinking at weaning 

 time. For suckling and weanling calves, the following grain 

 mixture proves satisfactory: 3 parts of corn meal, 3 parts 

 ground oats, 3 parts of wheat bran, and 1 part of linseed meal. 



When the calves are dropped in the fall, the cow and calf 

 will require more careful attention; this, however, comes during 

 the winter when there is little urgent work on farms where 

 cows are thus kept. The object sought is so to feed and manage 

 both cow and calf that they may be brought through the win- 

 ter in a healthy and thrifty condition; the cow in order that 

 she may properly nourish the suckling and be in condition to 

 breed again when so desired, the calf in order that it may make 

 a profitable feeding animal, as its future development depends 



