seasoned
with a little salt.

In many cases the calf is taken from the cow immediately; and before she
has seen it, to a warm, dry pen out of her sight, and there rubbed till
it is thoroughly dry; and then, when able to stand, fed with the new
milk from the cow, which it should have three or four times a day,
regularly, for the first fortnight, whatever course it is proposed to
adopt afterwards. It is of the greatest importance to give the young
calf a thrifty start. The milk, unless coming directly from the cow,
should be warmed.

Some object to removing the calf from the cow in this way, on the
ground of its apparent cruelty. But the objection to letting the calf
suck the cow for several days, as they do, or indeed of leaving it with
the cow for any length of time, is, that she invariably becomes attached
to it, and frets and withholds her milk when it is at last taken from
her. She probably suffers much more, after this attachment is once
formed, at the removal of the object of it, than she does at its being
taken at first out of her sight. The cow's memory is far more retentive
than many suppose; and the loss and injury sustained by removing the
calf after it has been allowed to suck her for a longer or shorter
period are never known exactly, because it is not usually known how much
milk the calf takes; but it is, without doubt, very considerable. If the
udder is all right, there seems to be no good reason for leaving the
calf with the cow for two or three days, if it is then to be taken away.

The practice in Holland is to remove the calf from its mother even
before it has been licked, and to take it into a corner of the barn, or
into another building, out of the cow's sight and hearing, put it on
soft, dry straw, and rub it dry with some hay or straw, when its tongue
and gums are slightly rubbed with salt, and the mucus and saliva removed
from the nostrils and lips. After this has been done, the calf is made
to drink the milk first taken as it comes from the mother. It is
slightly diluted with water, if taken last from the udder; but, if the
first of the milking, it is given just as it is. The calf is taught to
drink in the same manner as in this country, by putting the fingers in
its mouth, and bringing it down to the milk, and it soon gets so as to
drink unaided. It is fed, at first, from four to six times a day, or
even oftener; but soon only three times, at regular intervals. Its food
for two or three week