CALF FEEDING.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 523, 2 June 1909, Page 10

CALF FEEDING.

BUCKETS OR RUBBER TUBES?. The quostion of tlie best method of feeding calves has been discussed by farmers lately' in' the "Agricultural Gazette of New South .Wales.'V-Mr. H. It. Alexander, of Wollongbar, said: —"Three, -feeding systems are in vogue' among dairyfarnicrs— namely, from troughs, or by, means of rubber teats, or by bailing up and feeding from 'buckets. Having.tried all these -methods,- I can unhesitatingly recommend; the last-mentioned ....' .Feeding by means'' of teats may nave some good points, but' experience has proved to the writer that'results'nover compensated for. tho trouble and. expense connected with the rubbers and tubes."" .. To this another writer,.Mr, E. Turnbull. of' Albury, replied ..that'the trouble,referred to by Mr. Alexander can be,'entirely-over-come as regards the suction tube, and; tho exponse enormously reduced in- respect. of tho rubber tube; if the proper kind-of feeder be', used.- He advocates the-uso. of-, a. calf feeder, consisting'. of a .stiff ..iron''; suction' tube, one end of .which . leads: into-theVmillc. To tho other end'is fastene'd ; .a:hrassvsbcket, into which is-j;screwed a ■•removable.' valve, which controls the feed of milk, -irrespective of tho worn condition of the' mouthpiece. Over this is fitted a .rubber mouthpiccb, with a flange, to cnablo tho. feeder to. bo; retained in a holo in the fence..- A.saving.is .effected by having the suction : tube ■ made ; of iron, instead of soft tubing,: and the rubber tjats' can be used with just tho same good results oven if the whole of the end of the teat bo worn away. The valve with which.it is fitted effects a saving, it is stated, of eight gallons of milk per day, on every 25 calves fed. ' . '. . . "It is safe," says Mr. Turnbull, "to suppose that Mr. Alexander knows the reason why a calf reared by'the cow is infinitely better than ono reared by hand, yet ho condemns the system of feeding the calf on' a feeder which produces the same action as the cow,' in favour of allowing the calf to mink from a vessel, thereby gulping down his. food without tho saliva going down gradually with.'it, so causing so many of tho troubles, groat, and small, bo provident ioi oalvca atitko present day. As for tbdl

trouble, I cannot understand how Mr .'Alexander comes to rojoct such a valuable, little applianco as the calf feeder, as" in all the sis years 1 havo been Tearing calves, I have not had tho slightest troublo as regards them, taking to the feeders, and surely it is easier to have a few pens, and draft'a hatch of calves out to tho feeders, and then you, can go away and bo othor work near'by at. tho same time."

Mr. Aloxander replied to this as follows: —"I would' not withdraw my statements re calf-feeding methods. I havo used both 1 soft and firm tubes. Soft tubes were a complete failure. The stiff pipes woro a considerable improvement on tho soft ones. Havo never used tho tubes written of by Mr. Turnbull. Theoretically, feeders should be ideal; it does not follow in practice. The calves at Wollongbar speak for tho mothods recommended by mo, Ido not want them to look any hotter. Some of tho neighbours are following this farm's example re feeding bails, etc. I do not allow stud bulls to be reared on their dam, or, • even on a foster mother, as I consider I can make them better dairy animals in every way by bucket feedinc."