FEEDING THE CALF.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 6 January 1923, Page 9

FEEDING THE CALF.

No matter what is fed to "the calf afterwards, it should, if possible, receive its mother's milk for about 14 days. In every instance a pinch of carbonate of soda should be added to the milk to prevent the curd in the stomach becoming so tough that it cannot pass into the bowels. When this occurs the brain is affected, and the calf dies as in a fit. The carboliate of soda will almost entirely prevent scour, provided other simple rules in feeding are attended to.

All calf pails should be clean. Regularity as to time of feeding and quality of milk substitute given is essential, and the allowance for one calf should be measured into the pail. The plan of allowing all the calves to drink from one trough cannot be too strongly condemned.

As to the quantity of milk supplied at each meal, no exact rule can be laid down, as some calves require much more than others, but generally speaking 8 to 121b per day, equally divided between the feeding periods, is sufficient for the first few days, and the quantity may be gradually increased to from 12 to iSlb, or a maximum of one gallon at each meal. New milk should not'be continued longer than is necessary to produce good results, and the change from new to separated may commence when the calf is a-fortnight Old. : . ■ c