FEEDING CALVES.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1613, 28 January 1903, Page 62

FEEDING CALVES.

AUSTRALIAN EXPERIENCE. On this important subject, the experience of Mr T. IC. Dow, the well-known. Victorian agriculturist, as communicated to a recent number of the “Australian Farm and Home,” will be of interest. LINSEED v. ANIMAL FAT. A few years ago, says Mr Dow, I carried out some experiments. with the view cf ascertaining tlie results of feeding calves with separated milk, which had been enriched by the addition of matters to compensate for the fat removed in the separating process. Considerable delay occurred in searching for a supply of fat suitable for the purpose, and afterwards difficulties. aroSe in connection with getting the fat to mix properly with the milk. Finally, however, a satisfactory commencement was made on July loth, and the results being fairly accurate, may be taken as Car owing some light on the subject under investigation. ANIMAL FAT. Two calves were fed with a mixture of separated milk and fat, and two

others, for comparison, with separated milk and linseed jelly. A supply of margarino was obtained, as being the most suitable for the purpose, and as an “omulsor” or mixing apparatus was found to be too expensive for general use, tho fat was added to the milk in the following manner: —Goz of margarine was mixed with a pint and a half of milk, and heated up to boiling point, being allowed to boil for about ten minutes. The milk intended for the calves was heated at tho same time, and then tho boiling fat was poured in, and the whole well stirred. This plan answered fairly well, for the fat did not begin to separate until the milk began to cool. LINSEED JELLY. In using the linseed, three or four days’ supply was placed in a boiler, and about its own bulk of water was added. The mixture was then boiled for ten minutes, and on cooling a jeJv was formed, which was easily mixed with the milk as required. The calves No. 1 and 2 wero given each daily It gallons of separated milk and Goz of fat in two meals, and the feeding extended over a period of ninety-four days. The calves which had been fed on new milk for seven days before commencing with tho mixture, ran in a small paddock during tho day, and were enclosed in a house at night. . * RESULT FROM FAT. Ca'f No. 1 increased in weight from 861 b to 2121 b in the 94 days, being a gain in iivo weight cf 1261 b, and Calf No. 2 increased from 8-5:1/ to 1941 b, being a gain cf 1091 b, or an average gain of 11741 b eaeli. Some calves fed on separated milk gained only 871 b in tho same time, so that there was a difference, cluo to the fat, of 3041 b per head. RESULT FROM LINSEED. Calves No. 3 and 4 received the same quantity of separated milk and Goz pm head per day of linseed, the weight of linseed being the same as of fat in the other cases. Calf No. 3 increased from 801 b to 188.11 b, being a gain of 10341 b, and Calf No. 4 from 871 b to 20741 b, being a gain cf 120iib, or an average gam per head of 11441 b. Thus the gain to tho linseed came within 31b per headcf that resulting from the fat. Tho difference between tho increased weight produced by tho linseed mixture' was, therefore, 274-!b per head. COST OF FEEDING. Tho margarine cost 30s per cwt, and tho article could not be obtained for less, even if taken in larger quantities for feeding purposes. Each calf consumed 354-lb of margarine, at a cost of 8s 2d, so that the cost cf the increased live weight amounted to about 3 l-od per lb. The linseed was produced upon tho farm, and the cost is estimated at Id per lb. Upon this basis, the increased live weight of the calves No. -3 and No. 4 cost 2s llfd each, or about I-4d per lb. The calves fed on the linseed mixture looked as well as those fed on tho margarine mixture, but those fed upon separated milk alone were only in store condition and “poddy.” Those taking the margarine suffered a little from scour at the outset, but the linseed fed ones were not so affected. It is much easier to mix the linseed than the fat. Tho results seem to show that it is better and more economical in feeding to use fat-producing food than fat itself. It is probable that pollard would ho as economical as linseed. PROFITABLE RETURNS. It should he noted that the cost per pound in the foregoing estimation is based upon the gain cf increased weight only, while tho full result of the feeding is to render the whole weight of the calf saleable in the veal market. Thusin tho case of the margarine fed calves, tho 3041 b per head of gain at 3 l-scl per lb paid for all the margarine consumed, while tho result was two saleable calves weighing 2121 b and 1941 b respectively. Without feeding they would liavo been unsaleable “poddies.”