Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1859-12-22
farmera' dltpartmsat.
Management of Mi!ch COWS.


vattr holds the following judicious Ian
Fuage on the subject of Dairy manage
neEt Our readers will remember that
lie who milks but one cow, or two, or
three, should he az well posted in the
management Of cows as he who milk5 a
hundred:
"Much more is depending upon the
regular, careful and proper treatment of
the hcitcr before, as well as after caving,
and also at the time when she shall
come into milk, that many have any idea
of
It is said by some that cows cannot be
trained. II may be, when compared
with other animals. that they are not so
apt to learn but if they cannot be 50
managed as to be gentle, quiet and even
orderly, | must say that have been
very fortunate in the matter. With
single exception, | have bad but little
difficulty in attaining those points ofcx-
cellence in all cases where | had taken
the heifcr six or eight months before her
coming into the dairy; and even in this
case | have no trouhlc to mention, at
any other season except when we take
away the calf. She is very sensitive to
any injury to her teats, If they are
scratched, or otherwise made sore, and
is what would be called a high strung
animal. find it sometimes rather diff
icult to keep her quiet while milking
but this COW, after all, is one ofthc best,
( not the very best, all things taken in
10 account, that we ever had. My course
# management is to feed well and sea-
sonably, and always to handle gently:
and III the winter before they are to
come to milk, to handle them very much
as do my cows when in milk. Since
adopting this course, have had but very
little difficulty in milking, even the first
time. Seldom, il ever, do find it need
ful to resort to any punishment, anl
when it is, am careful that the hcifer Or
COW shall understand rig it is l)nc, and
never inAict another blow after she las
given in.
Regular hours Cor milking are Of the
greatest Importance, dividing the time
between as equally possible, and when
it must be otherwise, giving the greatest
length to the night. Cows suffer very
much every way by being MIXED at NJ
particular tins, and is one manner in
which to dry tGcir milk. 1t is almost
indispensable to the proper management
Of a dairy, that the cows should be milk
e.. by some one person, who is not ouly
trustworthy, but who makes it point
TO handle gently, and milk quickly, and
always very clean The last drawn is
almost all cream, and beside, if any is
left in the vessel Gas our Scotch brethren
call the uddcr or bag it has direct
tendency to dry the COW.
Farmers do not agree as to the length
of time COW should so dry, before com
ing anew into the dairy; but if the heif-
er is dried three or four months before
calving, it will be found to be no easy
matter to prevent her from coming dry
about the same time ever afterwards. -
have found no trouble to result from
milking them to about month before
calving, and think it much the better
course. TO be sure. tho COW should be
well fed, and with som" little extras,
ain quite sure that mine do better. -
There is great difference in cows about
holding ont in milk through the ssrsop.
io,ue give large Quantity for short
ti,ue. in the best of the season NJ, tlan
fal! IF, and in fact are hardly mlding
IT the most of the year. Such cows are,
5 q matter of course, very much iniu-
red in my opinion it is generally owing
. bad management the first season -
cry many Of the first mixers have been
Fc!l-nigh ruined through neglect to per
orm the very simple conditions which |
AVE alluded to, aud in some instances
heir owners have woGdered that their
promising hcifcrs have turned ont 50
poorly.
If the hcifer is always sure to find in
her keeper friend, she will not be Ii &c.
ly to be unru!y or troublesome; and ifa
good one, aud she be juliciousy man
aged, will be almost certain to make {,
good COW all the year round. But If on
The contrary she is handled roughly or
iyraunicully. is MIXED one day at 5 It.
~. and al 8 p. m. and the next Mt 3
n. and p. M the same practice of in
quality being continued through the
lrst season, even though she be well raI,
nd in other respects well managed, she
cannot DO well, nor can she long endure
aUnh usage without great injury, and
most likely ruin.