Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1897-08-31

While others advise to aban
don the animal and dispose Of
her. But as it is not always
convenient to do an amount of tying,
and we are not all endowed with suf-
ance so as to wage successful contest
in that way, nor is it always desirable
to abandon cow of superior merits as
a mixer though she kicks. So We
havo tried a more reasonable way and
one that can be done by the weaker
person as we'll as the stronger. And
with us 1T has never failed, though we
have taken some most refractory ami
mails to subdue. Mans ability to sub
due, control and make subservient to
his will the lower animals Is not vest
ed In his superior strength of muscle
but In his mental power. And first
OF all il he would control these ami
mails to his greatest benefit he must
control himself. l dislike very much
the term generally used breaking a
horse to work." or "a cow to milk"
1t should be teaching" them to do or
permit to be done to them certain
things. Who would speak Of break
ing" a child to read or spell or to play
the organ; and certainly If we have
to teach these children that are en-
bowed with human intellects. how
much more necessary for us to use
reason and patience with the dumb
animals that are placed under our care
and for our use and benefit.
How to do it-first of all be sure
you can control yourself. If you yield
TO bad temper you have failed in the
first principle and all you may do af-
terward will be largely unavailing.
Arm yourself, therefore, with self
control and patience and you are ready
to undertake the teaching of an ami
NAL, and not until then. All that is
required besides is common cow
leader with ten feet Of light rope at
tached. 1t is presumed that the cow
is in the cow-barn, either in stanchions
or tied by halter, and that she
is a heifer never MIXED before or a
confirmed kicker. Place the right
hand gently upon the back of the COW
and gently rub the side with the left,
gradually working the hand back
ward until the udder is reached and
handle it gently. If it be heller she
will likely move or lift the foot. If
the foot be lifted without her showing
desire to kick place the hand firmly
against the leg until she sets the foot
down, then proceed as before until she
Is willing to let you handle her freely
and has gained confidence in you that
you do not intend to hurt her. But
il she shows resentment when you rub
her side or udder, repeat the effort only
second time, then gently step from
her side, take the leader and place it
in the nose; avoid every appearance of
harshness, whatever you do, do it
gently if you wish to succeed. Then
holding the rope in the right hand and
placing the hand on the back as be-
fore, begin to rub the side, flank and
udder as before and as soon as she
resents your caressing give her a
gentle reminder by little jerk OF the
rope. | cannot caution you too much
in this. not to use harshness. Each
time she lifts the foot on account of
you rubbing the flank or udder give
her reminder by gently Jerking the
rope. BY simply doing as I have told
you I have never failed to be able to
sit down to and milk in ten minutes the
worst kicker that has ever come to
me. But do not think that one lesson
is enough. A few times will be all
that will be required for heifer. But
a confirmed kicker will need the strap
put on her for some days, and for the
first few days repeat the lesson be-
fore sitting down to milk. And always
keep the rope lying across the knees
while milking so that in case she
would move in the least you can re-
mind her that she is required to stand
still. A cow that has acquired the
habit Of kicking will often not be
willing to allow another person to milk
her besides the one who has taught
her to stand still. SO that it is well
when making change in mixers to
use the snap for time or two until
she becomes accustomed to the new
hand. There are some persons who
grasp the teat so harshly that few
cows are willing to be MIXED by them.
The heavier labors performed by men
give them harder grip, and we have
seen cows that showed no dislike TO
be MIXED by woman that would re-
sent it as soon as man caught hold
of the teat. Avoid harshness in any
way II you would have good mixers
in your herd, and teach" them what
you require them to do.