218 



Calf Rearing Experiments. 



In this experiment, therefore, the ration of separated milk 

 and cod liver oil gave better returns than either of the other 

 two rations containing separated milk plus another food, whereas 

 in the experiment in which milk was fed to the calves for a 

 longer period, separated milk and cod liver oil gave worse 

 returns than the other two rations. In both experiments the 

 ration of separated milk with Indian meal yielded better results 

 than the mixture of separated and whole milk. 



In experiments at the Garforth Experimental Farm (York- 

 shire College) it was shown that calves fed on whole milk 

 previous to weaning did not afterwards give such a good 

 return as those reared on separated milk and cod liver oil. 

 This result appears to be confirmed by the above experiments ; 

 but until the results of the calf-rearing experiments begun in 

 1902 and 1903 are available no very decisive conclusions should 

 be drawn from the above series. 



This experiment is held to have demonstrated : That calves 

 may be successfully reared on separated milk provided a cream 

 substitute is fed along with it ; that calves may be more 

 economically reared on separated milk and a cream substitute 

 than on whole milk ; and that the belief so generally expressed 

 when these experiments were started that creamery milk is the 

 cause of the death-rate among calves is entirely unfounded. 



Many substances may be used as a cream substitute. In 

 this experiment two only were tested, viz., cod liver oil and 

 maize meal, each in combination with linseed cake, and both 

 were used with satisfactory results. That there are others 

 of equal, if not of greater value, is highly probable, but their 

 value must be determined by further experiments. 



In rearing calves, the main points urged upon farmers are — 

 (1) to see that the young calf receives its mother's milk or at 

 least whole milk for not less than four, and preferably six,, 

 weeks after birth ; (2) to change gradually from whole to- 

 separated milk, accompanying the change by the addition 

 of a cream substitute — cod liver oil, or a meal such as Indian 

 meal or oatmeal — which should always contain good linseed or 

 linseed cake, and to endeavour to keep the " calf-flesh " on the 

 animals and not allow them to fall off in condition in autumn, 

 and winter. 



