The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-07-10
Farm Question Rox.

IN. B., Fort Mill York county, S. c.: + have a
Snost excellent COW of the ordinary scrub stock,
from which get, on an average, four gallons of
milk and one pound and half of butter per day.
She has formed the habit of 'holding up" part of
her milk for her calf 1 have tried often to get all
the milk without letting the calf to her, but have
never succeeded. If wean the calf, will | ever
succeed in getting all the milk and will it not cause
her to go dry sooner?
1t is hardly probable that a cow "holds up"
her milk by distinct act of her will. The
How of milk is the result partly of emotion and
partly of the handling of the teat. When
cow has been separated from her calf, and the
latter comes in sight and cries for its mother,
the secretion of milk is excited and tendency
to flow from the bag developed. A woman
will relate a similar experience, when, after
being separated from her infant for awhile, she
suddenly hears it crying. When the calf is
killed, Or permanently taken from the cow,
some milkmen have o stuffed and mounted
calf to place before the COW when being MIXED,
to excite her maternal instincts and promote
the flow of milk. In the second place, the
manipulation of the teat has marked effect
on the flow of milk. The ducts or tubes
through which the milk passes out of the teats
are surrounded by circular muscle, which is
ordinarily contracted enough to prevent the
escape of milk. But when the maternal emo
lions towards the calf are aroused, these
muscles relax and the milk is easily drawn.
The presence Of the calf and its manipulation
of the teat develop these emotions. Similar
manipulation with the hand has similar, but
not altogether as much effect. The more per-
fectly the manipulation by the mixer
approaches that of the calf the more freely the
milk viii flow. 1t is this manipulation which
constitutes the difference between good and
a poor mixer. a poor mixer seems TO irritate
the circular muscle Of the teat and makes it
contract. One who millls with stripping"
movement seems to do this very quickly, and
then the COW, as it is said, "holds up" her
milk. A slow mixer does the same thing by
the prolonged manipulation. Therefore, COW
should be MIXED very rapidly and not with a
stripping motion. Excitement, worry, anger,
all initiate against the development of the
emotions which relax the muscle and promote
flow of milk. A COW should be dealt with
kindly and gently, some choice food given to
keep in good humor, and as soon as the flow
of milk begins under gentle manipulation of
her teats, she should be MIXED very rapidly.
Now to apply these considerations TO your
inquiry: 1t is probable that your COW being
accustomed to have her calf suck, would miss
1t if kept from her and be worried about it, and
the flow OF milk be lesseued. You might halter
calf and place it within reach of head OF COW
she could caress it. Also give her during
the latter half of the milking some food she is
particularly fond of, and have her MIXED by
very rapid, good mixer. BY pelsevcring in
this course you might possibly get all her milk
and prevent decrease III yield. With first
gate mixer you could wean calf and keep COW
from going dry.
sP F. Elkmont, Ala: have a mule, four years
old, sixteen hands high which has become lamein
one hind leg or hip and has been lame for six or
eight months. The lip has Icri,hcd down. Ihaye
lied SC erll kinds Of iuimculs 0ut find 10 relief
VIII You give ne a remedy, OF ell me the cause Of
iameness
Ii is often quite difficult to locate precisely
the seat 81 laneucss. Trouble in the Lock is
not un-9oquently referred TO the lip joint
The two affections may be distinguished from
each other by the following; II the hook is
diseased, tho leg is drawn up partly and the
animal disposed to stand OF h S toe the knee
5oint is al fault the leg thrown forward under
OF the belly when standing. 4 case of this
standing hip joint disease is hard to manage.
Let the animal have entire rest for some weeks.
Apply cloths dipped in cold water all day long
for seek. Then rub in with hand every