The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1872-02-15
Mich Cows.

The extreme sensitiveness Of the
mammary functions in cows to the
influences of cold, fatigue, excitement,
unpleasant, 0dors, &c, Is indeed sur
|, prising. We have been greatly inter-
ested in observing the effects Of cold
upon the milk secretion a. seen in the
herd of cows upon the farm. During
the past summer, in the hot days in
July and August, the animals resorted
to the lake to drink, and after shaking
their thirst, they would wade into the
water and remain sometimes an hour
or two with their legs he If immersed.
This habit 1t was found invariably d.
unfinished the flow of milk at night,
and in order to learn the extent of the
diminuti0n careful observations were
made. 1t was ascertained that stand
ing in the water an hour diminished
the flow TO the amount Of eight or ten
quarts in q herd of thirteen cows. The
loss was SO great that whenever they
resorted tothe water they were driven
away to the pasture again at once.
We have learned that from simply
turning the herd into the yard upon q
cold d.y in winter, and allowing them
to remain fifteen minutes, the flow of
milk was diminished to a serious eX-
tent, and consequently the animals
are not now allowed to leave the warm
stable during the winter, except for a
brief period upon warm, sun-shiny
days. Water is brought directly
from q well into tie barn, and the
drinking-vessels are arranged so tina
the animals have to move but q step
or two to supply their wants. The
nature of the water supply and con-
v%eniences OF access are most impJr.
tant points in the management of
mich COWS. A draught of ice-cold
water, taken by u COW in winter, cuts
short the milk yield for the day from
one to two pints. Well water drawn
into vessels and allowed to stand u few
hours covered, in the warm barn, has
its temperature raised several dec rees,
and this practice should be adopted by
all thrifty farmers. 1t would undObt-
eddy pay well to slightly warm the
water, but this is attended with con,
siderable Inconvenience where large
herds are kept, unless steam apparatus
is used. The influence of u cold cur.
rent of air and cold drinking water
upon ows in milk is not Of II tran
Gent nature; it extends for a longer
period than u day or a week. Many
fine animals are ruined by careless eX-
posture every year, and self-interest
and feelings Of humanity should
pl0mpt all COW owners to keep dill
gent watch over their welfare and
comfort.
Cows in milk are often greatly in
ured by rapid driving from pastures
by needless boys and unthinking
men. They should never be urged
faster than a walk. Gentleness and
kindness Of conduct towards cows
have u wonderful influence upon the
milk pail, and also upon ii e progeny
of the animals. A bad-tempered,
irascible man ought never to be al
lowed in q cow stable. A man who
will kick a COW in q passion ought
himself to he kicked into the barn
yard, and forever prohibited from
again coming in contact with tie no.
BILE animal. The right person placed
in charge Of twenty cows, which
have been badly managed, will in
one month raise the tactical products
so that the increased cash returns will
pay his wages. This is a statement
which has been verified more than
Journal OF Chemistry,