The  Yorkshire  Farm-Prize  Competition,  1883. 
511 
Mr.  Turnbull’s  system  of  rearing  calves,  as  illustrated  by  the 
young  stock  on  this  farm,  is  so  successful,  that  I must  describe 
it  in  detail  in  Mr.  Turnbull’s  own  words:  “When  a cow  or 
heifer  has  calved,  we  place  the  calf  within  reach  of  the  cow  for 
about  ten  minutes,  so  that  she  may  lick  it  as  nature  teaches 
her  to  do.  If  the  calf  be  removed  after  the  lapse  of  ten  minutes, 
the  cow  is  rarely  unsettled  for  more  than  a few  minutes ; but  if 
the  calf  is  left  longer,  the  cow  may  be  unsettled  for  days. 
“We  give  the  calf  new  milk  for  the  first  month,  gradually 
increasing  the  quantity  up  to  2 gallons  per  day.  In  the  next 
month  the  calf  is  fed  on  boiled  skim-milk,  8 to  10  quarts  per 
day  ; to  prevent  the  milk  being  burned,  the  vessel  in  which  it 
is  heated  is  suspended  in  a copper  of  water.  From  the  end  of 
the  second  month  the  calf  gets  a mixture  consisting  of  two-thirds 
oatmeal  and  one-third  crushed  linseed,  made  into  porridge  and 
mixed  hot  with  skim-milk.  The  quantity  of  mixed  meal  is 
gradually  increased  from  1 lb.  to  2 lbs.  per  day. 
“ The  calf  is  taught  to  eat  sweet  hay,  crushed  oats,  and  linseed- 
cake,  as  early  as  possible. 
“ In  the  early  stages  of  its  growth  I never  allow  a calf  to  be 
kept  more  than  a few  weeks  in  the  same  house.  I attach  great 
importance  to  this,  and  to  fresh  air  without  draught,  also  to 
regularity  in  feeding.” 
The  youngest  calves  occupy  the  stalls  in  the  stables,  and  are 
moved  forward  and  hardened  off  in  sheds  as  they  get  older. 
They  were  all  full  of  flesh  and  had  beautiful  coats.  Those  in 
the  sheds  were  getting  a little  mixed  linseed  and  cotton-cake 
with  hay  ad  libitum  ; a lump  of  rock-salt  and  another  of  chalk 
were  found  in  every  manger. 
An  old  shed  at  one  side  of  the  building  had  been  extended 
I by  Mr.  Turnbull  so  as  to  form  nearly  a circle,  with  an  open 
court  in  the  centre.  The  older  heifers  were  placed  here,  and, 
like  the  rest,  were  doing  admirably.  On  our  last  inspection 
19  of  the  oldest  calves  were  out  at  grass,  weaned,  and  had  this 
I building  for  a shelter  shed,  where  they  were  receiving  a mixture 
of  cotton-  and  linseed-cake.  Mr.  Turnbull  had  refused  an  offer 
of  14£  for  the  heifers,  8 to  10  months  old.  20  heifers,  from 
15  to  21  months  old,  were  grazing  in  the  Deer  Park  of  15  acres, 
(getting  nothing  but  what  they  pulled,  and  were  in  excellent 
condition.  Two  of  them  were  nearly  due  to  calve,  and  the 
others  would  come  forward  at  different  stages.  Heifers  in-calf 
run  out  on  grass  both  in  summer  and  winter.  In  winter  they  are 
brought  into  a straw-yard  at  night,  when  they  are  supplied  with 
from  14  to  21  lbs.  of  hay  each,  according  to  their  age  and  size. 
Heifers  due  to  calve  in  spring  are  allowed  about  2^  lbs.  of 
linseed-cake  each  per  day  for  two  months  previous  to  calving. 
