90 
ELEMENTARY AGRICULTURE 
A block of salt, or a small box of salt should not be 
forgotten in caring for cattle. 
Feeding Calves.—For the first day or two, after the 
calf is born, he may be allowed to nurse his mother. 
He may not take all of her milk, and she should be 
“stripped” to prevent trouble with her udder. In order 
to keep the cow for dairy purposes, the calf is usually 
fed by hand, or from a bucket. This should be begun 
while the calf is very young, by placing the fingers in 
his mouth and holding his head down to the milk in a 
Fig. 63.—An Ayrshire cow. 
bucket. It is best to have warm fresh milk so that 
when he begins to suck the fingers, he takes up a sup¬ 
ply of milk, just as he did from his mother. After a 
short time, he drinks the milk readily. Cleanliness of 
the bucket and milk are important, to prevent diseases 
such as “scours.” Fresh milk should be fed until the 
calf is two weeks old, after which skim milk may be 
gradually introduced into the ration. 
Records.—How do you know whether a cow is giving 
enough milk during the year to pay for her feed? Do 
