Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-05-20
Care of Cows.


On the proper care of COWS during
the winter, D. W. Thomas writes as fol-
lows in the Ohio Farmer:
During the coming months too much
attention cannot be given to the feed
ms and care of cows. Success in milk
I'D flesh depends very largely upon
their winter treatment. Differences in
breed may account to a considerable
extent for difference in the quality and
yield of milk, and readiness of acquir
ing flesh, but very often food and care
will he found to exert a paramount
influence. JudiciOuS care and suitable
breeds are of course essential to the
very highest success. But whatever
the breed, the effect of the right kind
of treatment will be both marked and
remunerative. Above all, try by judi
cious treatment to keep them in perfect
health, as many dairymen in this
country are very much troubled with
their COWS aborting When abortion
occurs in winter-December or January
they scarcely ever amount to any
thing for milk the coming season. The
time is so long before they get to
grass, and cold weather is 50 unfav-
orable that it is found quite difficult
to keep them in milk even in cases
when they have carried their young
nearly to the usual time.
When warm and comfortable stables
are provided, and plenty of roots, with
! early cut hay, are fed in connection
with meal, a COW may occasionally be
got in milk. But in the majority of
COWS the experience Of farmers here
is that it does not pay to milk them
! The usual course is 20 turn the stock
| as soon as it can be conveniently done,
and fill up the herd in the spring with
healthy animals.
One great cause of abortion in COWS,
we think, is boys, dogs, and stanchions.
An old dairy farmer in this country,
who lived some thirJy-fye years on
the same farm, and last spring sold out
his farm, stock, hay, etc, says he never
kept a dog, and always tied his COWS
with a chain, instead OF putting them
into stanchions, and he never had
CT sc of abortion among his COWS. His
observation is that where there are
no dogs or Sanctions, there are few
abortions. But what is particularly
worthy of observation in this case is
the fact that the same COWS still kept
on the same farm, and fed this winter
principally on old hay instead of mat
cut last season, the same kind OF hay
that they have fed on in winters past,
are aborting seriously. The only
changes in their management ObserY-
able are the introduction of stanchions
and somewhat less generous feeding.
Such facts, it seems to US, are worth
attention. 1t cannot be denied that
stanchions allow less freedom in mo-
ton, and render lying down and get
ting up much more difficult than ropes.
We have seen COWS N the spring, be-
fore calving, unable to rise on the
slippery floor without assistance or be-
ing released from the Sanctions. Be-
sides, they are continually reaching
and pushing for their feed, and it is
not a strange thing at such times to
see cows hind feet slip back and
the COW fall. This must be very strain
ing across the small of the back.
AS to worrying COWS with the dogs,
it cannot be too strongly condemned,
for it not only affects their disposition
and the yield of milk, but renders them
liable to all sorts of accidents. Pro-
lapsus uteri, or falling Of the uterus,
is apt to occur among COWS not well
cared for during the winter. 1t is a
very dangerous thing, and, in most
cases, so far as we can learn, terminates
| fatally under the common modes of
| treatment which suggest themselves to
! farmers. If this should happen, first
wash the parts with great care and
| the utmost delicacy Of touch, using
! hlOod-warm water 600 degrees Fahren-
| heit), and soft sponge; when perfectly
clean replace the protruding organ,
passing it back gradually until all is
returned, and pushed we'll within. Then
| provide a narrow stall, where the cow
! will be obliged to stand or lie with
her head lower than her hind quarters.
/ Watch her carefully, and if the pro-
| lepsus recurs, repeat The operation. not
neglecting washing with tepid water as
| described Then punching the holes
| with a sharp awl, take two or three
stitches in the vulva with silvered wire
of the size Of bell wire, cutting off the
wire for each stitch, and uniting the
ends by a twist at one side. In case
silvered wire cannot be had, strong
silk twist may be used, each stitch be-
ing tied separately and the thread cut.
An opening at the lower end big
emo Oh to insert two fingers must be
| left for the passage Of urine. The
sew ng is not very painful operation
| to the COW.
mother great trouble farmers often
have with their COWS is inflammation
of the udder. or garget. In cases where
the Inflammation is confined to the
superficial parts Of the udder, as evinced
by the uniform swelling of its sub
| stance, cold and ast1ingent applications