256 ILLINOIS STATE DAIRYMEN'S ASSOCIATION 



xA.t the age of six months a skim milk calf should weigh 

 from 250 to 400 pounds, depending upon the size of the breed 

 and the thrift of the calf. Whether or not it will pay to raise 

 steer calves of the dairy breeds or the inferior dairy heifers for 

 meat will depend entirely upon conditions. 



In some places whole milk is sold and skim milk is not avail- 

 able. If a calf is raised on whole milk by shortening the milk 

 feeding period to about three months, the cost of feed will ble 

 about as follows : 



Table 3 — Showing the feed required to raise a calf up to the age 

 of six months when a small amount of whole milk is used. 



Feed Amount Price Value 



Whole milk 900 lbs. 



Grain 250 lbs. 



Hay 600 lbs. 



$1.50 per cwt. 



$13-50 



I. GO per cwt. 



2.50 



10.00 per ton 



3.00 



$19.00 



It may even be possible to raise calves on whole milk with 

 less feed than that mentioned, but in any case the results will be 

 less satisfactory than when skim milk is used and the feeding 

 prolonged to six months. 



The Calf at Birth. 



Every precaution should be taken to give the cow about to 

 freshen the most cleanly and sanitary surroundings possible. 

 The cow should be allowed to calve in a clean, freshly bedded 

 stall, or better yet in mild weather, in the pasture. It is essen- 

 tial that surroundings be clean in order to avoid infection of 

 the freshly severed navel cord. The cow will be in better physi- 

 cal condition and will yield more milk if she is dried up about 

 six weeks before calving time than she would be if milked up to 

 the time of calving. 



