16 



Farmers' Bulletin 1135, 



production of milk. Do not feed the cow too heavily on grain soon 

 after she has dropped the calf. AVhile it is important that the calf 

 have plenty of milk at all times, it should never have too much, 

 especially soon after birth. 



A calf dropped in the fall or winter probably will do better if kept 

 separated from its mother and allowed to suck night and morning. 

 In summer it should be provided with a lot for exercise and pasture 

 in the daytime, and during the winter with a well-bedded box stall 

 at night, \yhen the calf is from 4 to 6 weeks old it is a good plan 

 to bring it from the lot early in the morning, allow it to suck, then 

 take it to the pen or stall to be fed some grain. It should also be 

 suckled at night before grain is fed, then taken out to the grass lot 

 or be fed a little hay in the stall. To keep a calf contented when 

 away from its mother, it should run with other calves. A bull calf 

 should be separated from the heifers at the age of 3 or 4 months. If 

 the calf is dropped late in winter or spring it may be more conven- 

 \ent to allow it to run with its dam for several months on pasture. 



Since milk is nature's food for the calf it would be reasonable to 

 suppose that milk alone is sufficient feed for it. In all cases, however, 

 it should be provided with a little grain in addition to milk. If 

 both the cow and the calf have good pasture and the cow is giving 

 milk enough, the calf w^ill grow to weaning age in good condition 

 with less grain than otherwise would be needed. Frequently, how- 

 ever, the amounts of both pasture and milk are somewhat limited. 

 Then the feeding of more grain is absolutely essential for best 

 results. 



When from 4 to 6 weeks old a calf may be taught to eat grain. 

 This may be done by feeding it in a creep or pen to which the cow 

 does not have access. Wheat bran is an excellent feed for this 

 purpose. A good ration for the first few weeks would be coarsely 

 ground corn, oats, and wheat bran, equal parts by weight, with 

 a small quantity of oil meal added every few days. Feed the calf 

 at first one- fourth of a pound of grain a day, or just what it will 

 eat up clean, giving one-half of the amount night and morning. 

 After a few weeks a ration of w^hole oats 4 parts, shelled corn 2 

 parts, and oil meal 1 part by weight should be substituted for the 

 ground feeds. The calf should be eating from 2 to 3 pounds of 

 grain a day when 6 months old, or approximately one-half to 1 

 pound of grain per 100 pounds live weight. 



Unless the coav has been giving sufficient milk previous to this 

 age of the calf, it may be advisable to provide a nvirse cow for the 

 calf. To make the most satisfactory grow^th the calf should have 

 a liberal supply of milk for several months longer. This is especially 

 true if it is to make a maximum growth and show to the best advan- 

 tage when the fair season arrives. By being fed in the way de- 



