REARING CALVES ON THE BUCKET

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 182, 22 October 1927, Page 25 (Supplement)

REARING CALVES ON THE BUCKET

CLEANLINESS ESSENTIAL In the management and feeding of the calf depends much of the future cow’s productivity. Thus any calf worth rearing is worth rearing well. The newly-born calf should be rej moved from the mother before it has j had time to suck. If this is done the dam will fret less, and the calf will learn to drink much more quickly. As with the foal, the first milk or colostrum should always be given to the calf, because of its medicinal properties. Calves should be taught to drink with the lingers. Rubber teats are unnecessary, and as they are usually not kept sterilised, they may cause serious gastric troubles. Calves should never be allowed to over-drink. If the quantities of milk can be measured or weighed out, so much the better. Two quarts of milk is quite enough for a single meal, but where numerous calves have to be fed, a practical way of ascertaining when a calf has drunk sufficient is to watch the left hollow of the hip swelling until the skin becomes almost level. This indicates that the calf has had enough, and it should not be .allowed to drink further. Small bails are sometimes provided, in which each calf is taught to bail up when being fed. These are very useful in ensuring that every animal gets its proper share, and further, the early training in bailing up is desirable. Three feeds a day are probably best for the youngest calves, but twice a day feeding is usual, and if the animals are not allowed to over-gorge, it is quite satisfactory. Over-distension of the stomach due to too much milk is. next to dirty feeding vessels, the commonest cause of “scours” in calves. All utensils used for feeding or storing milk should be kept perfectly clean, and be well scrubbed out after each using. "Wherever possible calves should bo raised in the open. T s climate enclosed sheds may 1 pensed with, and if sheds are used at ali, they should b© fairly lofty, and open at one side "Well-fed calves at liberty to exercise will suffer no harm from ordinary weather conditions provided that they are protected from wind. "Whole milk is necessary for the first three weeks. At three weeks a small | quantity of separated milk, fresh and j

free from froth, should be blended with the whole milk to make up the requisite quantity. The proportion to skim milk should be gradually increased, but not the total drink, until at five weeks no whole milk need be added. Never give an excess of milk, and never feed frothy, or cold milk. A few days before the liquid diet is reduced to skim milk solely begin to add one teaspoonful of boiled linseed cake or other meal. Gradually increase this amount until within a few days a tablespoonful is being added. This will increase the feeding properties of skim milk.