RAISING OF HEIFERS.

Te Aroha News, Volume XLI, Issue 6603, 23 May 1925, Page 7

RAISING OF HEIFERS.

IMPORTANCE OF FEEDING ATTENTION IN CALFHOOD FIRST TWO YEARS OF LIFE The first two years of a heifer’s life are the most important from a growing standpoint, and of this time the first six months are the most important. It should be every dairy farmer’s policy to keep every young animal growing as constantly and as rapidly as is possible, thus securing a large, strong, early-maturing animal, which means a long-lived, hea-vier-producing animal, other things being equal. Never neglect the calves, states a writer in the Guernsey Breeders’ Journal. The younger they are the more important the maximum is. There are three fairly well-defin-ed methods of raising dairy calves: — (1) On whole milk; (2) on skim milk; (3) on milk substitutes. Whole milk is the natural ration for raising calves, but on dairy farms, where whole milk is sold for city requirements or for cheese factories, the farmer finds it more profitable to raise his calves some other way. Only the breeder of high-class purebreds can justify a long period of wholemilk feeding. Milk that carries a high percentage of fat is better for calves if at least one-half of the but-ter-fat is removed. ,A high fat content in milk causes digestive troubles that are usually accompanied by scouring. For this reason the milk of Jerseys and Guernseys does not always give the best results when fed whole to calves.

For the first ten days every calf should receive whole milk. This should be the mother’s milk for the first’ five days. Small calves should not get beyond 81b per day, and large calves not beyond 121 b per day. After the tenth day with a healthy calf one may begin to gradually substitute skim milk for whole milk. change must be made gradually, taking in all about ten days to change the ration entirely into one of skim milk. Thus, at the end of three weeks, the calf will get along entirely without whole milk. If one has an abundance of skim milk it may be fed quite liberally as the calf grows; never gorging the calf, however. Few have this liberal supply. Where the supply is short, it can be arranged to give the calf a restricted supply of only 41b or 51b a day, the result is decidedly good. If at all possible, milk should be fed until the calf is four months old. From the time the calf is three weeks old it will begin to nibble at and eat some roughage and some grain. From that time on some choice fine clean palatable lucerne, clover or mixed hay should be placed where the calf can get at it freely. Also, from the time the calf is ten days old it should have access to grain. For the first six weeks this is best done by placing grain in an open box in the pen and keeping some grain in it. The calf thus learns to eat grain, and from that time forward grain may be fed regularly twice or three times a day. Until the calf is six months old it may be fed as much grain as it will eat. The following mixtures are all good:—(1) 31b cracked maize, 31b crushed oats, lib bran, lib linseed oil meal; (2) 61b crushed oats, 3lb bran, lib linseed oil meal; (3) 31b crushed oats, 31b ground barley, 21b bran, lib linseed oil meal.

Another excellent way to start calves eating grain is to place them in stanchions while they are having their milk, and as they finish the milk place a handful of grain mixture in the bottom of the milk bucket. Soon the caf will get the taste of grain and readily eat it.

Many calves are successfully raised without any milk beyond the first months, being given calf meals. There are several of these in the market, some of which, manufactured by old established firms and having proven themselves through the years, are entirely usable and reliable. In using a calf meal it is important that directions be carefully followed. If this is done, quite as satisfactory heifers will be produced as from any other economic method of feeding.