sonal discomfort of the milker. The
disposition of the cow is greatly modified, if not, indeed, wholly
formed, by her treatment while young; and therefore it is best to handle
calves as much as possible, and make pets of them, lead them with a
halter, and caress them in various ways. Calves managed in this way will
always be docile, and suffer themselves to be approached and handled,
both in the pasture and in the barn.
With respect to the use of hay-tea--often used in this country, but more
common abroad, where greater care and attention are usually bestowed
upon the details of breeding--Youatt says: "At the end of three or four
days, or perhaps a week, or near a fortnight, after a calf has been
dropped, and the first passages have been cleansed by allowing it to
drink as much of the cow's milk as it feels inclined for, let the
quantity usually allotted for a meal be mixed, consisting, for the first
week, of three parts of milk and one part of hay-tea. _The only
nourishing infusion of hay is that which is made from the best and
sweetest hay, cut by a chaff-cutter into pieces about two inches long_,
and put into an earthen vessel; over this, boiling water should be
poured, and the whole allowed to stand for two hours, during which time
it ought to be kept carefully closed. After the first week, the
proportions of milk and hay-tea may be equal; then composed of
two-thirds of hay-tea and one of milk; and at length, one-fourth part of
milk will be sufficient. This food should be given to the calf in a
lukewarm state _at least three, if not four times a day, in quantities
averaging three quarts at a meal_, but gradually increasing to four
quarts as the calf grows older. Toward the end of the second month,
beside the usual quantity given at each meal--composed of three parts of
the infusion and one of milk--a small wisp or bundle of hay is to be
laid before the calf, which will gradually come to eat it; but, if the
weather is favorable, as in the month of May, the beast may be turned
out to graze in a fine, sweet pasture, well sheltered from the wind and
sun. This diet may be continued until toward the latter end of the third
month, when, if the calf grazes heartily, each meal may be reduced to
less than a quart of milk, with hay-water; or skimmed milk, or fresh
buttermilk, may be substituted for new milk. At the expiration of the
third month, the animal will hardly require to be fed by hand; though,
if this should still be
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