The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-02-14
How TO Prev mt MIX Fever.

My training aud experience in the man
agement of dairy stock was acquired In
a pre-eminently dairying district i'm the
west of England, where. with a climate
that allowed the COWS 10 remain out OF
doors by night from April l to December
81, and with pastures of such luxurious
ness and richness as would excite the
admiration and envy of many an Ameri-
can dairyman. the danger Of milk feve-
was ever of such a magnitude as TO de-
mand the strictest attention and was
unfortunately manifested by the number
OF very valuable animals which fell vie
Tins to 1t every season.
For fifty years my father has been dali
~ ing and for several years | had charge
of a dairy herd managed entirely on the
lines laid down by him. and In ali that
time not n single animal has been lost
nor has a penny been spent in medicines
of any kind though the herds have al
ways contained many excellent milk and
butter producing COWS, such as alone are
liable To attack.
our heifers, the produce of the best
cows, were bred to produce their first
calves in the summer, and previous TO
the birth Of the fourth calf on until the
NTH year was reached, everything was
done to dcN elop the milk-Vesses and
stimulate the milk flow. as well as 10
diton. From this time every precau-
ton was taken. If the COW were rich
mixer but inclined TO 20 dry for Few
weeks before calving, she was allowed
rest, but on approaching parturtion
should her udder become at all distend-
ed she was without any hesitation milk
ed out. If a persistent mi,ker-one or
the perennial kind-it was always re-
garded as the only safe course not TO
stop milking her nor to allow any accu-
mutation of milk, though the old milk
became useless or new milk had come,
as occasionally happened. If due TO
calve during such time as necessitated
housing at night, she remained at pas
ture during the day and at night was fed
sparingly, no rich food being allowed
her; If due to calve i'm the warmer sea-
son. she remained at pasture when pro
Vided her entire food. For the lrsI
week after calving the cow was lightly
fed on such diet as would preclude con-
stipation, and any considerable or imme-
date increase of milk, after which pc
Rod no danger was feared, and she was
fed full ratons, TO which a generous
response was invariably made. | have
drawn four gallons Of milk from "A Jer-
sey COW which produced fun tive pounds
OF butter on the day before calving.
This cow had been MIXED continuously
for years, and yet her condition and
that OF her calves were all that could
be desired. only two other cows by the
sire of this one were produced in our
neighborhood, and both died from milk
fever They were rich mixers, and
their misguided owners by giving them "A
rest from milking and by feeding TO pro
duce a fine show before Calving, killed
the geese that had been laying the golden
eggs.
Nor was any weakness or lack OF de-
yelopment indicated in the offspring IN
any case, and | do not believe That IN "a
single instance was there less ylelu OF
profit in a year than would nave peen
under any form OF treatment Inc
cows so treated invariably laid on flesh
as the time of calving approached so
proving their ability to produce thor
ouehlv healthy calf lille contributing
TO the dairy; and wherever such a con-
dltlon exists there would not appear TO
be the slightest cause for apprehension
80 20 the condition of either the COW or
tie calf. AS old and favorite families
We're bred for many generations. steady
deterioration would have been evident
were such course prejudicial TO the
health or statuina Of the caves. but such
was never apparent or existent, and all
heifers offered for sale were quickly pur-
chased at good prices, many buyers re-
turning for further purchases. AS 10
| spelling an udder by such treatment, L
cannot think OF such a thing In the
least degree likely. though | an aware
that many fine uiders and valuable cows
have been ruined by the opposite treat
ment.-James IL. Sparso In Breeders
Gazette.