THE CALF'S RATION

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 114, 16 May 1931, Page 8 (Supplement)

THE CALF'S RATION

INCLUSION OF GRAIN The calf should be 1 aught as early as possible to supplement its milk ration with grain, says an American writer. A calf can be taught to take grain beginning at about two weeks old. If you are using a commercial calf meal take a small handful and put it into the mouth right after the milk feeding, whether sucking or artificial. This not. only will prevent unnatural sucking of objects about the yards, but will give the calf a taste for the concentrate. If you have no regularly prepared calf meal, a mixture of ground or rolled bailey and oats in equal parts, or of corn and oats, is good. A little bran and oil meal may be added profitably. A handful at a feeding is enough at the start. At four weeks old half a pound daily is about right, and at two months Ub daily. This may be increased up to 31b a day at five months. Exactly how much depends in part on the available milk supply, the quality of the pasture, and so on. Skim milk powder, the writer continues. is proving a satisfactory calf feed replacing fresh skim. For the first two weeks whole milk from the mother is desirable. Then begin reducing by skim milk or skim milk powder. The latter is fed after being “constituted” by mixing lib of milk powder in 9lb (a little over a gallon) of warm water. Gradually reduce the regular skim and increase the milk powder, and at the same ‘ime. begin gradually with the dry calf meal or grain mixture. As the calf becomes older Ihc meal or grain will he increased as the milk is decreased.