OATS FOR CALVES.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 119, 21 April 1936, Page 5

OATS FOR CALVES.

One uf the best foods for calves _is crushed oats. An experiment was carried out some years ago at the Woburn Experimental Farm, England, when in comparison with other feeds, crushed oats _ and separated milk feeding gave the highest gain at the . least cost during nine weeks' feeding with the special foods, and when the calves were turned out in the fields and all fed alike the gain in live weight continued to be higher with this lot of calves, and lasted for at least seven months after special feeding had ceased. Dr. Voe'.cker reported that in appearance the whole milk calves had more bloom on them at the last weighing, and those fed on crushed oats similarly stood out above the remainder. Further experiments have confirmed this result. The calves were first given whole milk at the rate of li gallons each daily. They were given crushed oats as they would take it at about the rate of iib each day for six days. Then the whole milk was reduced gradually, separated milk brought in, and the crushed oats increased to £lb each daily. At the end of 24 days, when separated milk only was used, the ration was lj gallons separated milk and lib oats each daily. The crushed oats were always given dry, and not mixed with the milk.