BREEDING DAIRY CATTLE 256 



bxit grain feeding sliould also be practiced, as stronger and larger 

 calves will result. Later in the summer, when the grass is short 

 and dead, the flies bad, and weather very warm, some green feed> 

 if available, would be a valuable addition. After the first or 

 second month the calves should have access to cool, clear water, 

 as the milk furnished will not be sufficient for them to drink, 

 particularly if the weather is hot and the flies troublesome. 



Milk substitutes for raising calves. — Whole milk is the nat- 

 ural food for the calf. On it the average calf will thrive better 

 than on any other food. Because of the high price of milk 

 many substitutes for milk as a calf food have been put upon 

 the market from time to time. From a careful perusal of the 

 literature, both with respect to experiments and practice, it 

 seems that skim-milk, grain, and hay make the best substitutes 

 for whole milk in raising calves. Skim-milk, however, is seldom 

 available, and this has led to trying the substitutes found upon 

 the market. While skim-milk, grain, and hay are the best sub- 

 stitutes for whole milk, it is true that healthy calves can be 

 raised withrout milk of any kind after the first four weeks. In 

 general calves so raised will be inferior in size, but they can be 

 brought through strong and healthy. 



Removing horns from young calves. — When dairy cattle are 

 desired without horns, the removal is very easily accomplished 

 while the calf is very young. As soon as the horn can be located 

 by examining the head with the hand, clip the hair away from 

 the budding horn. Wrap a stick of caustic potash in paper to 

 protect the hand, dip the end of the stick in water, and rub this 

 upon the tip of the horn until the skin or scurf begins to loosen up 

 and gets red, taking care all the time that none of the potash 

 comes in contact with the skin surrounding the horn. In a few 

 days the place will scale over. One application is sufficient. 



Castrating the male calf. — The age at which castration is per- 

 missible varies, but usually is performed during the second 

 or third month. If done in early life, there is less danger of 



