Huntsville gazette., 1885-10-03
cows.
Efforts That Might Be Made to Protect
Them Against Flies.


Them Against Flies.
During the summer months. milking
is attended with serious annoyances
and vexations to the mixer, as well as
painful and tormenting experience
for the COWS, on account of the persis-
tent and savage attacks made upon
them by the flies, and it is expecting a
little too much of even a well disposed.
good-natured. COW to stand still and
give down her milk in serene frame
of mind, as she should, and at the same
time submit patiently to the singing
assaults of swarms of these tormenting
pests, assailing her upon every con-
ceivable part of her body, neck and
legs. As q protection to herself, her
tail is kept in continual violent motion.
dashing around and against the mixers
face, without the least discretion or
care for consequences. This exaspe-
rates him and puts his good humor to
a severe test and unless his disposition
is of the most forgiving kind, combined
with Jobs patience : qualities not
always found in the average mixer
he is very liable to retal;ate in some
hasty manner, either by word or act
that will create an enmity in that cow 5
mind against him for all the future;
and at the same time, perhaps. ire
parably damage her own reputation for
gentleness and good behavior, for cows
in their senstiveness rarely ever forget a
fancied injury from the hands OF an at
tendant who is cross and scOlds, or
who handles them roughly, no matter
what .he provocation may seem to be.
Cows noted for extreme docility and
gentleness at all other times, proverb-
ial for never having done a mean
thing, are often quite unmanageable
in ''hy time" and it is with difficulty
they can be induced to stand still to
be MIXED, The incessant, never-let-
up torment and annoyance inflicted
by. swarm of blood sucking flies up
on the body of COW tied by the head
or neck in the stall, thus depriving
her of one of the most effective means
of repelling and driving them off. is
about enough to craze her and cause
her to forget all the rules of good cow
decorum.
A simple, cheap and thorough rem
edy for this evil is to provide sheet
large enough to completely cover the
body and neck of the COW, having
loops or holes for the horns to pass
through to hold it in position, or, per-
haps, as good a plan would be to sew
a short band on the front end. to cross
the brow below the base of the horns.
ho .b ch IA1 Il ,
the knees, and be cut away at the right
side, to give convenient access to the
udder for milking.
Cheap material of any kind of cotton
light weight goods will answer for
the purpose. Each mixer should be
provided with one of these sheets, and
after having used it in the manner and
for the purpose indicated, there is no
fear that he will omit or forget to put
it on before beginning to milk the cow
The satisfaction to the mixer and the
comfort afforded to the cow by this
humane and simple precaution. which
is complete protection against the
annoying attack of biting flies, can
not be computed, nor the benefits
realized until it is tried. The COW will
show her appreciation OF what she
looks upon as kind act Gin her inter-
est and for her comfor), by standing
quietly to be MIXED, and will give her
milk down quickly, more freely, and
in larger quantities; the mixer will
experience no annoyance from the
switching" of the tail, or lifting of
the foot, so continual and incessant
under other circumstances; the milk
ing will become season of pleasure.
to be enjoyed and appreciated by all
parties interested instead of one of
dread and dislike on the part of the
COW, because OF restraint to her lib
erty in driving off the flies with her
natural weapons of defense. and to the
mixer on account OF increased COM
fort and satisfaction with which the
operation can be performed. - Cor.
Lice Stock Journal.