The Beef Calf. 



19 



5. Do not annoy or disturb the calf unnecessarily. — The fattening 

 or growing calf should be kept as quiet as possible. It requires more 

 feed to keep it growing while standing or moving about than while 

 h^ng down at rest. 



6. Do not feed moldy, musty, or spoiled feeds. — To do so may cause 

 serious digestive disorders. All hays should be bright, well cured, 

 and free from mustiness, dirt, and coarse weeds. The grain also 

 should be free from dirt, mold, and mustiness. If ground feeds get 

 wet they are likely to mold. This is especially true of cottonseed 

 meal and ground corn. They should not be fed if in bad condition. 



7. Do not waste time in feeding the calf. — To waste time in feeding 

 or preparing feeds needlessly increases the cost of gains. Grain 

 should be fed whole except when teaching the calf to eat and pos- 

 sibly also near the end of the fitting or finishing period. Whole 

 grain as a rule is more palatable than ground feeds. Ear corn may be 

 shelled, broken, or chopped up in the feed box rather than ground. 

 Husks on snapped corn need not be removed for this purpose. It 

 rarely pays to shred stover or to cut or chaff hay for the calf. It 

 need not be fed three times a day w^hen twice a day will do as well, 

 although the former may be practiced when fitting the animal for 

 show or sale. Do not go to the expense of buying prepared " stock 

 feeds" or "remedies." Home-mixed feeds are cheaper and equally, 

 if not more, satisfactory. A healthy calf does not need condition 

 powders. 



PREPARING FOR SHOW OR SALE. 



When a well-fed and properly developed calf is brought into the 

 show or sale ring it should present a pleasing appearance. In order 

 to do this it should be clean, well-groomed, halterbroken, and trained. 

 To train a calf, put a halter on it and teach it to lead and to stand 

 squarely on all four feet with head alert so as to exhibit its best fea- 

 tures. It should become accustomed to being handled by strangers, 

 seeing strange sights, and hearing unusual sounds, such as it will see 

 and hear at the show or sale. A good calf is frequently placed below 

 an inferior one because the judge can not put his hand on it to judge 

 it correctly. The trained animal that stands correctly and " poses," 

 so to speak, has the advantage over one that flinches, kicks, pulls on 

 the halter, and stands with its feet in such position as to give the 

 appearance of a weak back, narrow chest, and poorly developed rump. 



For a few months before the show the calf may be fed three times a 

 day with good results. Some feeders use molasses, chopped feeds, 

 and wet mashes. As a rule, however, more satisfactory results will be 

 obtained from using a good combination of the common feeds pro- 

 duced on the farm. The healthy, normal calf will make sufficient 

 gains and have a desirable finish with such feeds without coaxing or 

 tempting its appetite. 



