ILLINOIS DAIRYMEN-IS ASSOCIATION. 303 



Roughness Average Feed consumed per 100 

 fed. gains. lbs. gain. 

 Prairie Alfalfa Per Daily per Rough- 

 hay, hay. Total, head. head. milk. Grain, ness. 



Dried-blood lot ... 4,090 3,100 7,190 177.5 1.69 750.16 119.91 405.06 

 Blachford's sugar 



and flaxseed lot 3,910 3,100 7,010 186.7 1.77 726.16 144.89 375.46 



Check lot 3,855 3,300 7,155 186.3 1.77 726.90 112.50 384.05 



Although dried blood serves an excellent purpose as a tonic, 

 it did not prove, in this experiment at least, of any particular 

 value as a feed. The calves did not like the taste of dried blood 

 when used in large quantities, and when too much was mixed 

 with the grain they refused to eat the mixture. 



The calves did well on Balchford's sugar and flaxseed, but 

 no better than the check lot receiving shelled corn and ground 

 Kafir-corn. Both lots gained the same, but the check lot made 

 their gains on less feed. This experiment, like the preceding 

 one, emphasizes the fact that it is not necessary to go off the 

 farm to find suitable feed for calves. There is no doubt but 

 that excellent gains can be made from the use of feeds grown 

 on the farm. It should be the aim of every farmer to supply his 

 needs and buy just as little high-priced concentrates as possible. 



Varying the Ration for Dairy Calves. When calves 

 are fed for future usefulness in the dairy, care should be taken 

 not to get them too fat. In the early part of the feeding period, 

 when the calves are receiving a large amount of skim-milk and 

 comparatively little grain, there is not much danger of getting 

 them too fat, but as the grain ration increases it may be neces- 

 sary to feed more nitrogenous grain. This can be done by 

 changing a part of the corn or Kafir-corn for oats, bran or oil- 

 meal whenever the calves appear too fleshy. 



Feeding Roughage. 



Calves will begin to eat hay about the same time they will 

 begin to eat grain, namely, when from ten days to two weeks old. 



