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Farmers' Bulletin 1135. 



The quantity of grain to feed should be determined at all times 

 by the appetite of the calf. Feed what it will clean up in a short 

 time and wish it had just a little more. A variety of hays should 

 be provided if possible. While the beef calf can use cheap rough- 

 ages to advantage, good hays, preferably legumes, such as clover, 

 alfalfa, and lespedeza, are more satisfactory. Well-cured, bright, 

 corn stover or oat straw may be used to supply a part of the rough- 

 age needed and keep the calf's appetite good and its digestion in 

 proper order. Give as much hay- as it will consume, but do not 

 allow any waste. If the calf is on good pasture it Avill not con- 

 sume much hay. As it increases in age it can be fed silage to ad- 

 vantage. Avoid overfeeding with silage, as there is danger of di- 

 gestive disturbances, especially when getting a liberal supply of milk. 



Pasture should be provided at all times. Next to milk it is 

 nature's balanced ration. Sufficient pasture may be obtained from 

 such pasture plants as blue grass, Bermuda, lespedeza, carpet grass, 

 clover, alfalfa, and prairie grass. Late fall, winter, or early spring 

 pasture may also be obtained by grazing such crops as rye, oats, 

 wheat, soy beans, cowpeas, and velvet beans. Use great care in 

 pasturing legumes, such as alfalfa and the clovers, also winter pas- 

 ture crops. Turn the calf on such crops for pnly a short time at 

 first, because the calf may bloat from overeating on such feeds. 

 After it becomes used to them it may graze with safety. 



RULEiS OF FEEDING. 



There are many things to remember in feeding the calf. They 

 may be called rules of feeding and should be carefully followed. 



1. Provide a variety of feeds at all times, if possible. It is easier 

 to supply the proper amounts of the desired nutrients Avhich the calf 

 needs, if several different feeds are used. The ration will also be 

 more palatable. 



2. Do not make sudden changes in the feeds used or in the amounts 

 given. If it becomes necessary to change feeds from, say, clover to 

 alfalfa hay, feed part clover and part alfalfa for a few days. Grad- 

 ually reduce the amount of clover and at the same time increase the 

 alfalfa. 



3. Do not overfeed the calf. — Feed as much grain as it will clean 

 up in 30 minutes and wish it had just a little more. Feed left in 

 the trough to be breathed over is worse than wasted. If any remains 

 it should be removed and less given the next time. Digestive dis- 

 orders occur from feeding too much rather than too little. 



4. Do not underfeed the calf. — It should make a continuous gain. 

 If it does not grow each day the feed given it is about the same as 

 wasted. It never pays to starve a calf. In fact, the calf does not begin 

 to pay for feed until it is given more than enough to make some gain. 



