2IO 



Calf Rearing Experiments. 



In one case it was given to horses, and the report states that 

 " horses will only eat it in small quantities, when well disguised 

 with chopped hay and corn." 



In another case it was given to poultry, and the report 

 states that " they did well on it." 



Calf Rearing Experiments. 



The Journal of the Department of Agriculture for Ireland 

 for June, 1903, contains an account of experiments conducted 

 by the Department in the rearing of calves. The object of 

 the experiment was to test whether : — (1) Whole milk, which is 

 the most natural and the most perfect food for a calf, is also the 

 most economical food, and (2) whether it is as satisfactory 

 and more economical to use, instead of whole milk, separated 

 milk plus some substance which will take the place of buttcr- 

 fat — the constituent of milk removed by the separator. 



The experiments were commenced in 1901, when four lots of 

 calves were reared on the following rations, viz. : — Lot I. Whole 

 milk. Lot II. Five parts of separated milk with one part whole 

 milk. Lot III. Separated milk and cod liver oil. Lot IV. 

 Separated milk and Indian meal (ground maize). In addition 

 to these rations, each lot of calves received an allowance of pure 

 linseed cake. 



County Sligo was selected as the centre of the operations, 

 since an abundance of separated milk could be purchased from 

 the creameries, and as that part of the country was free from calf 

 disease. The calves were purchased at fairs in Counties Sligo 

 and Roscommon and in the Dublin Market in the month of 

 May, 1901. The animals purchased were drafted into four lots 

 as equal as possible in respect of weight, quality, age, and sex. 

 There were seven calves in Lot I., whose average age was four 

 weeks ; eight in Lot II., average age five and a-half weeks ; nine 

 each in Lots III. and IV., average age five weeks. 



After the experiment had been in progress eight weeks it was 

 deen.ed advisable to begin the weaning of the oldest calves in 



