MILK FOR THE CALF.

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 2709, 17 June 1925, Page 5

MILK FOR THE CALF.

The United States department of agriculture gives some figures on the quantities of milk '.that may be fed to calves at different ages. At birth a 50-pound calf needs about eight pounds a day, while a I’oo-pound calf will use 12 pounds. ’ Underfeeding at the start, says the department, is better than overfeeding. Some beginners make the mistake of giving- the calf all it wants. This would probably be a good practice if the calf were fed every two or three hours, as is the case when it runs with the cow. However, when a young calf has been without feed for from 8 to 12 hours there is danger that it will gorge itself if allowed to consume all it wants which may cause digestive trouble. A uniform temperature of about 90 degrees F. is necessary if the milk is to agree with the calf and produce the best results. Some feeders attempt to make up for any lack in quality of the milk by increasing the quantity. For instance, they will feed much more skim milk than whole milk in the belief that the increased quantity wilt make up for the lack of butterfat. This is wrong as the same rule about overfeeding holds good with skim milk as with whole milk. If, on account of ago, souring, or dirt, the quality of the milk Is poor, the quantity should be reduced rather than increased. The calf will not lose so much in development through a reduction in feed as ho would from digestive disorders. A calf often.can take a relatively small quantity, of bad milk for long periods and hold its own and. even make small gains; when a larger portion would cause digestive trouble and even endanger the animal’s life.