Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1864-07-05
Agricultural.
Breaking Kicking Cows.

There is nothing easier than for All animal TO
be impressed with the idea OF cause and effect.
The farmer who calls bis pigs to dinner associates
in their minds that call and fine meal. The
shepherd teaches bis whole flock TO come at his
word for the salt or meal which be gives them,
and so 10 hundred other instances. II cause
and effect may thus be pleasingly connected to-
gether, it may be also in the paying Of penalty.
This brings me to my mode OF treating kicking
COWS. first place them in a small yard, and
make myself familiar to them by feeding them
small morsels. This may DO continued Tor some
time il necessary. | then commence milking,
placing switch under my let arm, and the pail
in my left hand 90 as to evade any kick. My
great principle is never to strike but once at
time, no matter what the proyocstious may be,
and always to keep perfectly cool. A single
stroke always produces terror but not excitement,
and so, therefore, infinitely more dreaded than a
storm Of blows, which induce reaction.
When commence milking, il the animal kicks
or altemps to kick, the whips quickly Withdrawn
from under the left arm BY the right or milking
hand, and single cut is applied to the back OF
the animal. If she starts TO run, another single
cut across the face brings her to a stsndstiIl
Am especially careful never to strike but once,
and the whip is Immediately returned to the left
hand. The animal is stroked or soothed in b. m
pleasant voice, and the milking RECOMMENDED.
Every repetition Of the offence or attempt at the
offence, is treated in precisely the same way. 1t
is surprising to one that has not tried this mode,
what short time 10 required for the animal to
understand exactly what 10 meant. The kick is
always sure to be followed by the single dreaded
blow, and the animal soon comes 10 understand
that II ID undesirable TO repeat it. once met
with COW remarkable for the large quantity OF
rich, excellent milk which she gave, that was
furious kicker. Very few person, could endure
her bad habits, and she had been sold from own.
or to owner at SUCCESSFULLY diminished prices ]
told her last owner that could easily cure her |;
the remark, of course was received with perfect
incredulity. The treatment have described was
given. At the first milking there were some
pretty sharp blows from her hooi, which were
dsxterously evaded, and the single stroke of the
whip gwen invariably in every instance. Before
the milking was completed, they had become
much less frequent At the second milking, the
animal kicked only twice, and the third none al
all in other words, she was cured, and In tpc
iessons-only one third the time in which certain
advertising pretendsrs offer to teach the French
language. Before the operation, this COW was I
terror to the milker-her legs we're strongl.
strapped together, man stood at her head, ant
the mixer worked with constant fear OF som
warlike denomination. Now, she became mill
and gentle, never stirred foot, and with ha
closed eyes continued to chew her cud as long a
the milking was going on, and she seemed herse
entirely satisfied with the change that had CON
over her.
never found but one COW that could nc
entirely break Of kicking; this was an animal {
extraordinary shrewdness, who, seeing my fit
and prepared manner, would never kick while
had her in hand, although treating every oths
person with warke demonstrations.
II men who manage domestic animals, woul
exercise moments reflection, they would 81
that their irregular, random and passionate trea
ment could do nothing else than make th e
% worse. They must adop, kind. firm, self col
trolled manner, aud complete system. faithful
carried out to produce the desired results.
Country Gsntlemon.