Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1888-06-08
The Cow BEFORE CaIving-Her Needs.


John Tucker SAYS in the Farm
Jonrna that "ManE people complain
of Jumps in the teals Of their cows and
of distractions IN the uiders. To pre-
vent these troubles there must be more
care in drying of the cows. and in feed
ing and care when they come in. We
milk our Jerseys the year around ex-
cept three or four weeks before the
calf is born. They are never dry, and
their udders are all right. 1t is Il bad
plan To leave milk ia the udder to dry
up. This means that the water in the
milk will be absorbed and leave the
cheesy matter aud other solids TO form
into Jumps or To- settle in the glands
and cause irritation swelling and thick
ening of the membranes. which press
outward and stop up the duets or pas
sages through which the milk fOws.
when the udder is swollen and
hard IL must be- fomcnted with hot
water or some strong linlment TO re-
duce the inflammation rs soon rs posi-
BILE before any thickenng Of the mus
cles or membranes take place. or there
will be II permanent injury, Exposure
to cold. heating foods. or excess Of
food will cause Inflammation OF the
milk vessels The COW should be fed
lightly before calvng, and for week
afterwards. All her drink should be
warm. and she should not bc exposed
TO the cold in any form.
Some cows will not give good milk
for, perhaps two months before calV-
ing. as it will have a salty taste or be
stringy. This is not so apt to be the
case, If the cow be fed the proper foods
to build up the body structure of the
calf Ii the COW does not have these
foods, and also foods To make milk.
nature viii rob the milk OF its ele-
ments; for the first Jaw of nature = TO
feed the Dung in the womb aud when
born from the mammalian organs.
There c IN be- no arbitrary rule about
dry NJ oil COWS. We keep cows for
the profit there is in them. and to let
the whole herd 20 dry three, or four.
or five months as many do, because
we. or some one else. had cow that
/ gave bloody milk or stringy milk or
/ milk that was not good IN some way
/ at these periods before calving. i non
I
/ gard To these Things and the care of
food has Il great deal TO do with It.
The rule must be- in IA mans brains
more than any Where else.
Now right here let the remarS be
made. The successful dairy must
make up his M nd To know more. He
must study up and understand more Of
/ the reasons OF things. The cow must
have good food to make muscle and
bone to dcVelupe the cali, or in other
words. calf material; and II she Is to
give milk good Tor anything she must
nave food tor this also. Another thing,
if she has these foods they must not
he c,nStnted IN u rant for life. on ac-
count of exposure to the cold by day
and by night. Such j. too often the
case. 4 COW can eat enough. If she has
IA chance, TO grow perfect calf IN the
fntus. and at the same time give q
good mess of milk up to the very day
Of the birth of the calf. We have had
cows do th ;. not intentionally ever.
but because we did not know when the
calf was due and there were no signs to
ind cate the nearness OF its birth. We
do not recommend it; but rather than
attempt To dry the COW off at least from
four to six weeks before the calf is due.
IL m q necessary to dry up some
cows sooner. AMI some cannot he dried
at all. Ih.se are the extremes. In no
case should the milk be allowed to
harden in the udder. when the COW
will not dr. up. let her be MIXED at
10 Isl three times day up 10 the last
we ,k before coming IN. and then let
her adder ill up.
During this period she should be fed
! lightly on carbouaceOus foods TO keep
down fever aud to make milk and be
fed only on heterogeneous foods of the
lightest character, such as brand.
This will be ample for the calf. At the
same time she should, if possible. have
some succuent foods. such rs roots or
good silagc to promote full secretion
in all parts OF her body. This will aid
in pariurit on and prevent retention of
the placenta. which often occurs when
COWS are fed altogether on dry and
/ heating foods.
Poverty OF food units II cow for tue
ordeal of bearing young. The pla-
centa's often retained because Of the
/ lack of the mucous or SOitenng ele-
mcnts required TO prior II tn work.
/ A COW should always have succulent
foods and "a small amount of linseed
meal "A months OF more before calvlng-
time Ii this cannot be done let her
have slop mixed with "a decoction or tie
/ from mucilaginous foods, llaxseed. COM
fiery root. slippery elm. arrowroot.
| When these pains are taken. there Will
rarely be az, trouble. Starch is good.
/ our Country Home.