314 ILLINOIS STATE DAIRYMEN'S ASSOCIATION 



Another solution of this problem is to feed the minimum 

 quantity of milk, getting the calf to eat grain, or gruels made of 

 grain, as early as possible. Some feed the milk for two or three 

 months, and at the end of this time the calf is entirely fed on dry 

 feed. This is probably the best method to follow. 



There are a great many milk substitutes advertised on the 

 market today, but these are usually expensive, and for the best 

 results some milk should be fed with them. 



Stabling the Calves. 



The calves should by all means be kept in clean, well-lighted 

 and ventilated stables. Where plenty of barn or shed room is 

 at hand, the best method for handling the calves is to keep each 

 one in a separate pen. A pen three feet wide, five feet long and 

 three feet high is large enough to accommodate the calf until it 

 is four to six months old. There are many advantages in keep- 

 ing the calves in this manner. The calves will not suck each 

 other's ears when they get through drinking their milk, and 

 thereby cause the ears to freeze in cold weather, and they can be 

 given more individual attention. They can be fed as individuals. 

 A case of scours among calves may be located more readily in this 

 manner, and a remedy may be applied at once. Where there is 

 less room to be had, the stanchions will usually give the best re- 

 sults. A stanchion made of wood will be entirely satisfactory. 

 The stanchion should be made from 3 to 3^ feet high and 18 to 

 24 inches from center to center, and the neck space should be 4 

 to 5 inches wide. The stanchion is built in the same manner as 

 the old-style rigid stanchion. The feed manger may be made 12 

 to 14 inches wide, or wide enough to accommodate the milk pail. 

 The calf should be fastened while it drinks the milk, and the 

 grain fed immediately afterward. By the time the calves have 

 eaten the grain they will lose the desire to suck each other's ears. 

 A part of the manger may be used for hay, but the calves should 

 be loosened from the stanchions after they have eaten their grain. 

 The calf pens and stanchions should be built in the south side of 

 the barn, where plenty of sunshine and light can be had. There 

 is no disinfectant that will take the place of sunshine. During 



