FORTY-FIRST ANNUAL CONVENTION 309 



dairy products. The fat is used by the animal body to supply 

 heat and energy and store fat on the body. Other feeding stuff, 

 such as corn or similar grain, can be fed to take the place of fat. 

 The casein, albumin and ash are the most important con- 

 stituents of milk for the growing calf. These substances are 

 used by the body for making muscle, nerve, bone, hair, hide and 

 hoofs. These elements are left in skim milk. Then by separat- 

 ing the whole milk, selling the high-priced butter fat, and sub- 

 stituting a cheap grain ration instead, calves can be raised more 

 cheaply. 



Taking the Calf From Its Mother. 



The exact time of taking the calf from its mother will de- 

 pend upon the condition of the calf and its mother at the time of 

 calving. If the calf is strong and in good condition it may be 

 taken away immediately, without allowing it to nurse. It will be 

 an easy task to teach the calf to drink from the pail if it is taken 

 away from the mother at this time. If the calf is weak at birth, 

 or if the cow's udder is inflamed or caked, it is a better practice 

 to allow it to remain with its mother for several days. In casa 

 the calf is taken from its mother immediately it should by all 

 means receive her first milk. The milk at this time contains a 

 high percentage of protein and ash, which act as a laxative and 

 tonic and are very effective in cleaning out the digestive tract 

 and stimulating the digestive organs. In some cases it is not safe 

 to feed calves the milk from their mothers after the first few! 

 days. The milk from cows belonging to the high-testing breeds 

 is very often too rich in fat for the young calf, and should be 

 diluted with skim milk, or milk from some other cow should be 

 fed. 



Quantity of Milk To Feed. 



The quantity of milk to feed the calf at this time is very 

 important. Under natural conditions the calf gets its milk often 

 and in small quantities, and the more closely Nature is imitated 

 the greater the success. The calf of average size should receive 

 about eight pounds of whole milk a day at first. Large calves 



