CAEE AND MANAGEMENT OF ANIMALS 833 



the first few days the calf might remain with its mother. 

 On the separation taking place the first thing is to teach 

 the calf to drink, and this by the exercise of a little patience 

 is soon acquired. One or two fingers placed in the mouth 

 at once induce sucking, and the pail containing the colos- 

 trum or milk is held under the mouth, which is slowly 

 lowered towards the fluid until it touches it. The fingers 

 may now be withdrawn gradually, the calf in the act of 

 sucking being able to draw up a little milk, while the 

 head is gently held so that the lips are kept under the 

 level of the fluid. It may be necessary to introduce the 

 fingers again with the head in this position, but very 

 shortly the lesson is learned, and in a day or two the calf 

 will drink voluntarily on the pail being presented. 



The fingers of the nurse should be clean, and the vessel 

 holding the milk must be above reproach. We have seen 

 (p. 595) that 'white scour,' the bane of calfhood, is produced 

 by a filth organism that probably enters by the digestive 

 canal, and which cleanliness can control. 



But apart from this there is another form of gastro- 

 intestinal disturbance due to dirty pails, sour milk, etc., 

 which is also obviously under control. 



The question of the frequency of feeding calves has 

 been dealt with on p. 137. Four times a day at least is 

 required, not twice a day as is commonly the case, which 

 frequently leads to the young animal overloading its stomach 

 with milk, and producing stomach and intestinal disorders. 



Whole milk for calf-rearing is not required provided an 

 efiicient substitute is used, full details of which will be 

 given presently; but if possible it is best to give whole 

 milk for the first week or two, and gradually substitute 

 skim milk. The change on no account should be sudden. 

 As we have seen, skim milk by itself is a starvation diet, 

 with it must be added the milk substitutes. Even then 

 the quantity given daily must be carefully regulated to 

 avoid stomach and bowel irritation. 



The amount of milk allowed daily for the first few weeks 

 of existence varies from four quarts during the first two 



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