CALF CLUBS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LII, Issue 246, 16 September 1932, Page 9

CALF CLUBS

FIELD DAY HELD

ADDRESSES AT TAONUI

Although the weather conditions were not very propitious yesterday afternoon, there was a splendid attendance of children and parents at the Taonui School, when a “field day” was held for the No. 5 group of the Children’s Calf Club Movement. Arranged by Mr J. A. Russell, the gathering was most successful and provided the means of stimulating interest and offering valuable advice to the children of the Taonui, Te Araluira and Colyton Schools, who attended. Addresses were delivered by Messrs A. G. Galpin, R. H. Meade (Government veterinarian), R. P. Connell (Department of Agriculture) and E. H. Lange, agricultural instructor of the Wanganui Education Board. Tho speakers were introduced by Mr Russell and received very close attention. VETERINARY ASPECTS.

Mr Meade spoke on the veterinary aspect of calf rearing and expressed gratification at the progress made in the Calf Club movement, as it was desirable to see the young people interested in animals. Those who were careful with animals usually were very observant in other things, Mr Meade added. It was desirable to get as many young people as possible interested in farming pursuits and to make farm life easier for them than it had been for their elders. r J hey should be encouraged by comfortable conditions, and it was for farmers to recognise this. Mr Meade suggested that a comfortable shed .should he erected for the calf so that it could be carefully looked after. A paddock with soft grass as a run was also an acquisition. It had been said that “prevention is better than cure” and it was necessary to breed a calf that would make a good milk cow. If more attention were paid to the rearing of calves with a good constitution much loss could be obviated. A healthy animal more easily resisted disease. Speaking of milk, Mr Meade said the cow’s first milk bellied tho calves to resist disease and offered a natural laxativo for the calf in its early life. It was therefore desirable that the calf have its mother’s milk during its fast few days of life at least. It had to he borne in mind that food suitable for the cow was not of benefit to the calf. Tho calf should be fed in such a way that }t would be structurally sound. It had to he remembered that cattle were creatures of habit, the same as human beings. “Cultivate good habits and map out your work methodically. Go through the whole process each day,” said the speaker, in emphasising that forgetfulness in rearing could not be tolerated. Summarising the subject, Dir Meade urged the feeding of tho mother cow’s milk to tho very young calves, the use of clean utensils, the right temperatures of the milk, the right time of feeding, ensuring that each animal had its fair share, tho use of a paddock not used by diseased animals, especially those suffering from tuberculosis, tho need of the absence of rubbish in paddocks and gradual changes in feeding. It was a matter for remembrance that the first year in the calf’s life was the most important and tliat care was needed during the first winter. POINTS OF THE COW. Mr Galpin was the next speaker and used a calf to illustrate his address. He said that centuries ago there were only beef cattle, when the milk was only used for rearing the calves. Later, selections of milk producing cows were made up to the present day. In Taranaki the world’s champion cow had produced over 12001 b. of butterfat —one and a half times her own weight after supplying her own bodily needs. The points donating constitution were bright, prominent eyes; well-distended nostrils, the windpijie clean and open, good heart girth and width between the front legs, which permitted a broad chest. It was necessary for the animal to have conditions which were conducive to the supply of plenty of oxygen. To produce a good amount of butterfat a cow must have good storage capacity, and in this respect there was needed length of back, and depth, also a good spring of rib. Nervous temperament was important, and the ability of the animal to turn its food into milk. The beef animal’s temperament was to put its food on its body; the dairy animal took just enough for its welfare and produced milk with the rest. Width between the eyes showed an active brain and slimness showed that the milk was being well produced. Good blood circulation had to be considered and was denoted by big milk veins and a network of veins extending down the udder. A good udder was square, caught well up to the body, and bad to have room for developing between the legs. All of these points could be obtained, but the biggest factor in suecoss was tho child who looked aftor the calf. Good handling, kindness, attention and method in feeding all counted, said Mr Galpin. VALUE OF GRASS.

Mr Connell was the next speaker. At the calf club championships, he said, there would be classes for judging by the boys and girls. Speaking of milk, he stressed its value as a food, for everyone had lived solely on it in early life. An animal’s body consisted of muscles (flesh), fat and bones, and milk contained the substances required for making these constituents. Short, fresh grass was practically the same in composition as milk. Apart from its composition, it was also identical with milk in the ease of digestion. From a stock viewpoint, the only difference was the greater richness in the grass. Ten gallons of milk produced 871bs. of water and 1311>s of food, while lOOlbs of grass produced about 231 b. of food. If the grass was allowed to become long ana “stemmy” the feeding value and composition were changed for the worse, for the constituents were in their wrong quantities and not easily digestible. Bone and flesh forming substances were least prominent and produced stunted calves. It was like asking a human being to live on sawdust, which had its food producing values, but in the wrong proportion and in an indigestible form. Phosphates and lime were also needed by the calves, Mr Connell added. To bo sure of a regular supply of short; leafy grass it was necessary to topdress the grazing paddocks with superphosphate and lime. Local land seemed to respond quite well to the former alone. In November and Decomber tho calf paddock should have the long grass mown. It had been said that calves could not be properly raised without concentrated feeds, but New Zealanders disagreed with this as we realised the value of our leafy grass. The concentrated foods were the same as our grass in the matter of bone and flesh forming properties, said Mr Connell.

BECORDING WORK. Mr Lange expressed appreciation at the large attendance as lie had been disappointed by the smaller group entries. He spoke on the recording work necessary and showed several examples. The first few pages of the record book comprised a diary of regular intervals; then followed a short summary of the call’s life, and photographs of the animal. Later there were collections of clover and grasses and descriptions of the photographs.

All of these features were necessary and required system, the details of the calf being set out first, followed by a description of call rearing. Entries at regular intervals had to be made in the diary. Mr Lange intimated that ho would be visiting the schools during the next six weeks and that the children would have a certain amount of recording work to do. Mr D. McFarland, chairman of the Taonui School Committee, on behalf of the group, proposed a hearty vote of thanks to the speakers. He also expressed appreciation to Mr Russell for organising the gathering. The ladies of the district served afternoon tea and were warmly thanked on the call of Mr W. E. Thomas.