9 ? 
Management of Aberdeen Angus Cattle. 
in pedigree herds, at any rate, Nature’s plan is the best; therefore, 
let the calf suck its dam — that is, if she is healthy and in a con- 
dition to suckle her calf. There is nothing like its mother’s 
milk, taken just as required, for making a good calf ; it is the 
food provided for its sustenance, and it supplies all that is re- 
quired to build up a healthy structure. Besides, in the act of 
sucking, the milk is taken just in the proper quantity and 
suitably mixed with the salivary secretions to ensure good 
digestion — a very different condition from that which exists 
when calves are fed from a pail at certain hours of the day, or 
are only allowed to suck at fixed intervals. 
For the first three or four weeks after calving the udder 
should be frequently examined, and until the calf can consume 
the whole of the milk any surplus supply must be drawn off. 
At all times, so long as the calf is still sucking, attention must 
be given to see that all the teats are clean. Calves will not suck 
a dirty teat, and if not regularly sucked the quarter of the 
udder it belongs to will become engorged. 
So long as there is no demand for the calving-box, the cow 
and her calf may remain there ; but if it is required, then the 
cow may be returned to her stall in the byre, and the calf be 
tied up by her side. This tying-up of the calf is best done by 
means of a strap around the neck attached by a swivel to a 
pretty long collar shank ; this allows the calf to get a fair 
amount of exercise, and at the same time it acts as a first lesson 
in breaking-in. I need scarcely add that the cow with the calf 
by her side requires a double stand ; this may be a drawback 
when space is of importance, but if the plan can be adopted it 
is a good one, and no more interesting and instructive object- 
lesson can be furnished than a row of cows, each having her 
calf by her side. 
When the bull calves are from one to two months old, those 
that it has been decided to alter should be operated on. And 
here let me point out the supreme importance of keeping only 
the best bull calves for stock purposes — by best I mean those 
that in the first place are good ones individually, and have in 
addition a good record as to ancestors and all other qualities 
that are not only desirable but absolutely needed in a stock 
bull. 
The demand for small-priced — it is a mistake to call them 
cheap — bulls of this breed is considerable for crossing purposes, 
and breeders may be tempted to keep on animals that would be 
worth as much or more as steers. This is a mistake, and the 
sooner both the pedigree breeder and the cross breeder 
realise it the better it will be for all concerned. In breeding 
VOL. V. T. S— 17 H 
