Show PiA D ii 14 1 lu CARING FOR CALVES AN IMPORTANT II TASK There Is no doubt that for the best results the daIry herd should be homegrown home grown Of course there Is a limIt to the possibility of doIng this for tor It Is necessary to get out Into the market marketto to make the start The poInt which Is Isto isto to be emphasIzed however howe Is that you know just what you have when you raise your own cows By careful selection selection tion the herd can be built Into a production production pro pro- unit ot of the highest efficiency e y Moreover every care may be taken to Insure the maximum development ot of the heifers h When one considers the Important part In the development de of the herd played by the development of the calf he realizes that the subject of curing caring for his calves Is one ot of the very ery highest Importance The first attention should be to the t prenatal care of the calf caU Before ever the calf calt Is born much may be done I to either help or hinder Its development Into a valuable animal The cow should always have at least six lx weeks or two months rest before she sho freshens By drying her oft this long before calvIng you are able to give glye her digestive diges- diges the tive s system stem n a rest and she can be better better bet bet- ter prepared for the work she must do during the ensuing year The Importance importance tance ot of thIs rest period Is not appreciated elated by many people rest period before parturition the cow requires only such food as will maIntain her In topnotch c condl lion Of course assurance must be had that the unborn calf caU Is obtaIning the requIred nourIshment Cooling laxative stuffs teed should be supplied Only the graIn necessary to proper maintenance should be fed The best graIns for use as occasion demands are bran and nd some oats It If the cow Is much below condition you may feed n a very little UlUe corn It If It Is absolutely necessary to build up the cows cow's condition condition condi- condi tion by feeding corn or other fattening and heating feeds build up gradually It If It Is possIble for tor the cow to be on pasture conditions vill be much more conducive to me welfare ot of both c cowand cow r. and calf calt LIttle other feed than that obtained ed from the pasture itself will be required In the wInter corn silage will wIli best provIde the bulk ot of the feed together with plenty ot of clover alfalfa or other legume hay The wInter ra- ra should be supplemented by grain Even In the wInter avoId the use of at corn and feeds which are bInding to a greater or less degree Timothy and and cottonseed meal are examples ot of these undesirable feeds fot or n a ration mUon durIng during dur- dur Ing the rest perIod If It comes In the wInter use some such combination as ground oats three parts wheat bran two parts oil meal meal one part A few tew days before the calf caU Is born the feed should still be further reduced and special attention paId to preserving Ing the laxative conditions Immediately after freshening the cow should begIn to receIve n a larger amount of feed until In a month or so soshe soshe she Is on full tuU Successful Farming |