FIFTIETH ANNUAL CONVENTION 191 



Do Not Neglect Watering Calves. 



The importance of supplying plenty of water to dairy 

 calves even when fed a fairly liberal allowance of skim 

 milk is not appreciated by many dairymen. To gain defi- 

 nite information on this matter, in the 1922 trial a lot was 

 fed the same ration as Lot 1, except that no water was given 

 these calves. Both lots received a liberal allowance of skim 

 milk, the good concentrate mixture mentioned previously, 

 and common salt. Lot 1 received what water they would 

 drink twice daily, while the other lot had no water except 

 that occuring naturally in the skim milk and the trifle in the 

 "dry" concentrates and hay. 



The calves not given additional water gained only 1.39 

 lbs. a head daily, while Lot 1, watered twice daily, gained 

 1.75 lbs. This experiment is being repeated at the present 

 time, and during the first 5 months the calves which are 

 receiving water in addition to their other feeds have made 

 an average daily gain of 1.76 lbs., while those not receiving 

 additional water have made an average daily gain of only 

 1.29 lbs. 



Lack of water in the ration results in a lower grain and 

 hay consumption. During the first trial 25 per cent less 

 concentrates and 43 per cent less hay was consumed by the 

 lot not receiving water and up to date in the present trial 

 22 per cent less grain and 59 per cent less hay has been 

 consumed per calf by the lot receiving no additional water. 



The lack of water, therefore, causes a surprising differ- 

 ence in the appetites of calves. No farmer who wishes to 

 grow his calves rapidly and well can afford to neglect sup- 

 plying them with plenty of water — the cheapest item in the 

 ration. 



Semi-Solid Buttermilk; Dried Skim Milk. 



Since the trials during the first two years proved that 

 thrifty calves can be raised on only 400 lbs. of whole milk 

 from birth, with a simple concentrate mixture, water and 

 salt, attempts are now being made to find whether this ra- 

 tion can be improved. This year one lot is being fed lim- 

 ited amounts of semi-solid buttermilk, and another lot has 



