706 



Calf-Rearing. 



[march, 



In this paper it is proposed to describe in detail the method 

 that has been followed for nine years with considerable success 

 on a north-country farm, where a herd of good milking Short- 

 horns is kept, and both butter and cheese are made. 



The Calf-House. — This is a spacious "lean-to" building on 

 the south side of a higher one, and is lighted by means of 

 single panes of glass at regular intervals in the roof. The floor 

 is of concrete, with no drains either open or covered. The 

 two doors, each in halves, are on the same side, so that there 

 may not be cross-draughts. The pens (6 ft. by 5 ft.) are on 

 each side of a central gangway with board partitions not quite 

 down to the floor, and palings in front, so that the calves may 

 see each other across the gangway. Each pen contains a small 

 trough and hay-rack. 



Before a new-born calf is placed in its pen the floor is littered 

 with an inch or so of well-broken moss-litter, and this is covered 

 with a fair bedding of straw. A little extra straw is added day 

 by day as required, and at the end of a week the pen is cleaned 

 out. Afterwards moss-litter only is used, a bucketful being 

 scattered on the top as frequently as it appears to need it ; and 

 the pens are cleaned out about once in three weeks. Moss- 

 litter is such a good absorbent and perfect deodorant that no 

 offensive odour is noticeable and no drains are required. When 

 removed from the calf-pens it is still too dry to place on the 

 manure heap, and forms an excellent substance to place round 

 the heap to absorb the liquid draining from it, and when 

 saturated it may be thrown on the top. 



It will thus be seen that provision is made for comfortable 

 and dry beds, sunlight, and fresh air, while an incentive is given 

 to exercise on the part of the calves by the sense of companion- 

 ship which they feel in seeing one another. These are conditions 

 not difficult of attainment which should be aimed at in the con- 

 struction of every calf-house. 



The New-Born Calf. — The calf, as soon as it is " dropped," is 

 removed to its pen, and neither calf nor dam appears to seriously 

 notice the separation. The hollow of the hand of the attendant 

 is filled with carbolic oil (1 part Calvert's No. 4 carbolic acid to 

 19 of Galipoli oil), and this is applied freely to the calf's navel 

 to prevent the absorption of microbe germs, which often pro- 



