40 



Calf Rearing Experiments. 



[APRIL 



calves were again divided into four lots, which thus received : — 

 Lot I, whole milk ; Lot 2, five parts separated milk and one 

 part whole milk ; Lot 3, separated milk and cod liver oil ; Lot 4, 

 separated milk and the calf meal described above. The com- 

 position of the ration given to Lot 2 approximates fairly to 

 that of hand-skimmed milk. Each lot also received an 

 allowance of linseed cake. 



The experiments, begun in May, 1902, were carried out in the 

 grounds of the Cork Exhibition, which offered exceptional 

 opportunities for a public demonstration. The previous year's 

 trials were conducted in county Sligo, where the calf mortality 

 was less than in many districts ; the 1902 experiments were thus 

 at a certain disadvantage in this respect, and duplicate calves had 

 to be substituted in cases of sickness. These are not, however, 

 thought to have any effect upon the conclusions drawn. 



At the end of the first twenty weeks the calves reared in the 

 Cork Exhibition had all made considerably larger increases than 

 those reared during the corresponding period of 1901. This is 

 ascribed to the effect of the housing, this being the only condi- 

 tion which differed materially in 1902 ; still, the Department do 

 not, upon one season's trial, recommend the system of summer 

 housing calves. 



After the weaning period, the calves were all placed on uni- 

 form rations, and treated alike. The following rations were fed 

 throughout the winter, until May, 1903 : — 1 lb. linseed cake and 

 1 lb. crushed oats per head per day, with meadow and rye grass 

 hay ad lib., and a feed of straw once or twice a week. From 

 May to October, 1903, the cattle were out at grass. Towards the 

 end of this latter period the grazing became somewhat bare, and 

 cotton cake was fed ; nevertheless they were only in thin condi- 

 tion when sold, at the end of October, at 23s. iod. per cwt live 

 weight. 



Taking into account the prices realised and the cost of the 

 food, it appeared that the greater gain made by the calves fed 

 on whole milk — the most expensive of the rations — did not 

 compensate the increased cost of feeding, and the calves which 

 gave the best results were those fed on separated milk and cod 

 liver oil. 



Considering the results of both years' trials, the Department 



