i9io.] 



Baby Beef. 



183 



the best of all. For the first four weeks of their lives the 

 calves had, on an average, ij gallons a day of whole milk, 

 which makes a total of 42 gallons each. On this system 

 calves must have some whole milk given them. For the next 

 eight weeks ij gallons of liquid was given, made up of half 

 new milk and half water or skim milk, and boiled linseed and 

 oatmeal as a cream equivalent. From the twelfth till about 

 the sixteenth week pail-feeding went on even if skim milk 

 were not available, for nourishing and palatable fluid was 

 believed to be of great importance. At about 14 weeks old the 

 calves would be getting gallons of skim milk plus 1 lb. 

 of boiled linseed and oatmeal gruel, or gallons of water 

 plus 2 lb. of gruel. This was gradually discontinued till at 

 4 months old the calves were on dry food, the best of hay 

 having been supplied from the fifth week. 



All through their first summer — that is to say, from the 

 age of 4 to 7 months or so — the calves were in boxes made in 

 old barns, very little litter being used, the feeding being all 

 the green fodder crops they could consume without scouring, 

 all the hay they would eat, and from 3 to 4 lb. a day of best 

 linseed and bean meal, half and half per diem. 



Six to nine months' autumn and winter feeding followed, 

 when they received per diem § to 1 bushel of cut roots, 4 to 

 6 lb. of cake and meal, and all the good hay they could eat. 

 They were usually sold at about 13 months old, but if the 

 market was against them they were fed on, receiving a little 

 more cake and corn, though never more than 8 lb. a day, till 

 prices improved. February was found to be the best month 

 for the sale of this small beef, though June and July were 

 also very favourable. k 



Mr. Evershed states that the success of the system depends 

 largely upon the men being made to take an interest in the 

 animals, and that the beasts should be fed regularly and 

 never over-fed at any one time. While calves are being pail- 

 fed their food must be kept scrupulously clean, and their 

 stalls must also be kept clean and sweet, otherwise scour will 

 spread, and then, he says, "good-bye to one's profit." 



The difficulties in the way of anyone wanting to grow this 

 early maturity beef must not be minimised, the greatest, 

 perhaps, being that of obtaining a proper supply of good 



