FARM AND DAIRY

Taranaki Daily News, 12 July 1929, Page 19

FARM AND DAIRY

HINTS ON REARING AND FEEDING. HINTS ON REARING AND FEEDING HOW TO AVOID MISTAKES (By “Agricola.”—Special to News.) Until such limes as calf rearing be.vmes part of the dairying system of the community there can be no hope of increased production, to any extent, taking place. To increase production on a firm and secure basis it is necessary to breed and rear the calf. Such

a desirable calf could be bought, but it is much cheaper for the farmer to breed and rear it himself.

Before calf-rearing is adopted it is absolutely essential that a bull of good quality, and, if possible, of tried value, be placed at the head of the' herd. It is a waste of time and money, in fact, to start with anything else. Such a bull costs money, but it is a very short sighted policy which will allow any experienced farmer to possess anything but a really good reliable bull. Taking it that his value is understood, and that he has therefore been established, the next step is the feeding and the rearing of the calves which are going to be retained for the milking herd. The young calf requires food totally different from matured stock, yet the ration must supply all the necessary foods for maintenance and growth. The chief difference between the calf’s food and the adult's is that it must be easily digested. This is obtained by feeding milk. Cow’s milk, contains everything which is necessary for the maintenance and growth of the calf in an easily digestible form, and the first milk, or colostrum, of the newly calved cow contains a very necessary purgative. Milk, in fact, is the only known substance which will satisfactorily nourish a calf during the first few weeks of its life. The digestive system of a calf is absolutely unable to handle rough foods such as hay, oats, etc., because they contain far too much indigestible material, fibre. Not only so but the calf can digest very little pure starch as is found in grains until a few weeks old. Their ability in this increases from birth till they are about four weeks old. This should show how important it is for successful rearing that calves receive nothink but milk until a few weeks old, and even after that the necessity of milk feeding does not cease and can profitably lie continued for a considerable period. Extensive feeding trials have shown that a milk diet is essential until sixty or seventy days old. Even then some calves benefited by feeding for a longer period. Only in those cases where the calf had become accustomed to feeding on liberal amounts of hay and grain was it possible to stop milk feeding at 60 days. These trials showed that a consumption of 40 gallons of milk in 2J months accompanied by liberal feeding made good progress. Smaller quantities were insufficient. Grains and meals if used should only be given as additions' to the milk rather than as substitute for it.

VALUE OF COLOSTRUM.

The first milk secreted by the cow after calving is called the “colostrum,” a very beneficial material to the young calf in its aid to the young digestive tract in helping it to function properly. It also helps the calf to resist disease. Calves ■which do not receive the colostrum frequently die. The feeding of eggs and milk raw seems to afford a certain amount of protection to those calves which have not received colostrum. The eggs should be given at the rate of six in a day, if possible, and reduced to one or two at the end of the week.

As a guide to the quantify of milk to feed a calf it should be calculated at the rate of 11b for every 101 b body weight with a maximum of 151 b per day. For the first seven days at least the calf should have his meals three times daily—oftener if possible. If calves are io receive any additional food with the milk, the best to use are crushed oats, wheat, bran, and wheat middlings. These may be fed singly or mixed in equal proportions. Crushed oats do well alone.

Another good mixture but one which requires the purchase of food is: Maize .meal 10 pints, oatmeal 50 pints, wheat and bran 30 pints, linseed meal 10

Calves under three months should be fed on finely ground feed until three months old. After that they can handle grain whole. Calves can consume 21b per head of grains per day at three months old; at six months they will consume up to six to eight pounds if allowed.

CARE AT BIRTH.

It is unfortunately too often the case that the calf is left to find for itself at perhaps the most critical time of its life. Lack’of care for the first few days of the calf’s life ends in failure or death. Frequently it is heard of a certain cow haying calved, and no trace of the calf could be found. It is hard to know how any dairy farmer could admit such a thing, let alone make it public. To call that gross carelessness and neglect is to use mild language. Such a practice might be warranted in breeding stock whose progeny were not going into the herd.

The practice is not permissible where tho calf may some day head the herd or be one of its producers. When calfrearing for the supply of the herd is intended, suitable arrangements should bo made that a close observation can be held from time of birth. It is not always possible, but where it is a shelter of some description should be erected for the calf’s reception for at least a few nights, and if that is not possible it ought to bo rigged. Those who have calf pens should see that these pens have been thoroughly washed and disinfected before any calves are admitted to them each year. This should bo made a practice, not after some undesirable disease has made its appearance, but before, in order to keep it out.

Some time after tho calf is born it should bo given the opportunity to suck, or else it should be fed some of its mother’s milk. This should be repeated four or five times a day for the first few days. Great difference exists as to whether a calf should suck or be fed. Where the feeding is carefully done it is quite successful, and the cow does not miss her calf so much when removed from her straight away, But either is successful so long as the calf receives a sufficiency of the mother’s milk. The teaching of a calf to drink Is simplicity itself, but the patience which is frequently required for the operation is another thing. What should be in

reality a quiet and peaceful operation very frequently assumes the proportions of a brawl. To make a ten minute operation a five minute one when calffeeding is concerned usually results in wasting quarter of an hour, and the spilling of most of the milk. The need of patience for the first two or three attempts is essential. For the first few days the calf should

receive its mother’s milk, but care should bo taken in the case of Jerseys and Guernseys, because these breeds have frequently milk of too high a percentage of butter-fat for the delicate digestive system of a calf, and if fed it results in scours, etc. If such a thingshould happen the milk should be diluted with a little separated milk. Calves vary in their prowess of utilising milk with a high butter-fat content. Where feeding by hand about 61b of milk should 100 used to commence with

per day for Jerseys and Guernseys. Layer breeds, like Holsteins and Ayrshire?, 81b divided' throughout the day into three feeds. Whatever system is adopted, either feeding whole milk to special pedigreed stock or the whole milk separated method, care should be taken to give the food in reasonable quantity at a time. . FEEDING THE MILK WARM. The very young calf should be fed immediately the milk is drawn from the mother. This should always be done and fed at the same temperature, for the feeding of warm and cold milk is always followed by trouble. At other times than at milking time

the milk should be heated by the addition of a little water or by placing in a boiler of water and bringing up the temperature in that way which is the better. Finally the milk fed should be good and wholesome. Sour milk should not be fed to very young caters but it may be fed to calves several months old. Always endeavour to have the calf’s milk in a good wholesome condition.

SUBSTITUTING SKIM FOR WHOLE

In some farm bred dairy herds, calves are frequently fed whole milk till they are six months old. No doubt this is the best and natural diet for the calf, but it is really not possible, owing to the expense involved,, in valuable pedigree herds. This necessitates the finding of cheaper methods of rearing such as the use of skim milk at first in part and finally alone. Others again give the calf a sufficiency of whole milk till about 2% months old, and at the same time inducing the eating of grain and hay. Where it is decided to substitute the skim milk care should bo first of all taken to see that the feeding temperature is correct. The actual substitution should not take place if possible until the calf is about three weeks old and then the substitution should be a gradual one. If a well bred calf is backward it may be fed the whole milk for a longer period. If care is not taken in substituting the skim milk digestive trouble is almost sure to follow, and a set-back at this age is very unfortunate. If the calves have been provided with calf pens it is advisable to provide stanchions and feeding boxes for each. If they have none they should be tied up away from each other outside. They should not be allowed to feed out of the same box. This prevents sucking of each other after feeding, and each secures any other extra feeding that may bo given. It need hardly be .said that all foam ■ •?bui bus . ■

should be removed from skim milk before it is fed. The feeding with the skim milk should be carried out as long as it is practical. In some cases it is too valuable for other purposes. If this should be the ' case its use should not be discontinued till after the third or fourth month is passed. Now and again, but fortunately seldom, calf-rearing is attempted where neither whole milk or skim milk is plentiful. At the outset let it be said that rearing should not be attempted unless there are grains available also. If there is extra feeding to be got a sufficiency of whole milk should be given for the first month, say 11b for every 101 b weight of calf. During this month every effort should be made to encourage the calf to eat other foods — grains and legume hay. Wheat, bran, and ground oats are invaluable, and should, if possible, be kept handy to the calf. Provide them with plenty of the best clover hay and give fresh supplies frequently. The calves must bo encouraged to feed on other foods if the system has to be a success. It must be remembered that this is only a makeshift, and is not so good a system as the milk. • FEEDING OF DRIED MILK. Feeding of Dried Milk. —This method is not much in voguS in this country, but where it could be got at a suitable price second grade material might be used in preference to whey feeding. Grain Substitutes.—The feeding of grain substitutes permits of the rearing of calves or food other than milk, but the milk feeding, cannot be completely eliminated. Under the peculiar circumstances of farming it is not an advisable system for it would prove much more expensive than the skim milk feeding. Keeping Utensils Clean.—Cleanliness is at all times an absolute essential about a dairy farm, and it is especially so in the feeding of young animals as they are so susceptible to infection. The calves should have a separate set of pails or vessels for their own use. Each day after use all the utensils which are in use either directly or indirectly in the calf-feeding operations should be thoroughly cleaned, washed and scalded in boiling water. After that they should be carefully put away in such a manner that they can receive as much sunshine as possible till next required. Poorly kept pails are a great source of trouble. . Kerosene tins, although cheap, should be kept in good order when used and repeatedly changed for fresh ones, and when used the best available should be in service.

Feeding Grains and Hay—Calves show an inclination to eat at from seven to 15 days old. It is advisable to introduce them to any extra feeding very gradually. Bran and bruised oats are the chief. The bruised oats especially are good feed for calves. In the way of forage nothing but the best clover hay or lucerne hay should be given. Commence by giving small quantities and replace the hay regularly. Calves will only eat the fine leaves for choice. As for other types of hay, their use is not advisable. Once the calf is older a feed of better type of hay once a day is all right. Feeding Silage—Silage should be fed with care, and if this is done they may receive it after, say, three months of age. It should only be used if there is not a supply of leguminous hay such as clover and lucerne. It is inclined to bo laxative for calves, but if fed it should never exceed 21b for small breeds and Sib for tho larger,a.ij,,Qir<(o, or four

months old, and this may be increase by lib per day for every month of ,tl calf age. Only the best should be use and that if there is nothing- else. 7 Feeding after Weaning.—After wear ing it is unfortunate that many calve are neglected and frequently much goo work is undone. They should bp can fully watched for thriftiness, and ai though they may not remain fat the should keep growing; be sleek and sof to the touch. LU Pasturing.—Calves should be - suppliewith their own pasture and not mixel up with other stock, and care should, h given to shelter and water supply. I the pasfure has little clover in it it ma; be beneficial to supply a mixture of sal and ground phosphate, steamed Jboni flour, ground limestone or wood ashes In short, attend to their needs while a pasture. , •' Growth of Horns.—Unless for specia reasons the average dairy farmer woulc bo well advised to have the horns re moved from his dairy stock. ?' Thu should be done while they are calves When the calf is a few days old little buttons will be felt in the site of the horn. When these are plainly felt at about one week old they should be treated to prevent their growth. The hair around the area is removed, and a little lard or petroleum jelly sin eared around but not on the little button. Next take a stick of caustic, slightly moistened, and rub on the button until the skin becomes red and about to bleed. Do not allow the caustic to run down the head. Apply only to the horn button. If treatment is effective a deep seaj* will follow on the third of fourth day, but should this not happen repeat on fourth or fifth, but this time a little more vigorously.