Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-05-04
The strawpile


containing the elements that are nee
essary to the development of bone and
muscle In the fetus, says ID. III. Otis,
animal husbandman at the Kansas ex-
pertinent station In bulletin No. 126.
1t is better for the COW, and we be-
lieve better for her record in the pro-
duction of milk and butter fat. II she
can go dry six or eight weeks previous
to calvlng If it is impossible to dry
her up without injuring the udder,
continuous milking should be practice
cd.
Where the COW has access to good
pasture with plenty Of spring water
she needs little or no attention until
two or three days before calving. II
she has secluded. shady and otherwise
comfortable quarters separate from
the other cattle, and is carefully
watched by an attendant, she may
need no other attention until after the
calf is dropped. Sometimes luxuriant
pastures will stimulate heavy mixers
to produce too much milk prior to
calving, in which case the supply OF
feed should be reduced, and in extreme
cases the milk removed before calving.
when kept on dry feed care should
he taken to provide plenty OF succu-
lence. Ensilage and roots serve an
excellent purpose, the object being to
keep the bowels loose. When alfalfa
or clover hay is used for roughness
very little. grain is necessary. With
less heterogeneous rough feeds. grain
mixture Of two thirds bran and one
third oil meal IL excellent. Soy beans
may be used as q substitute for oil
meal. Il
.In cool or cold weather the COW
should be placed in box stall. well
lighted. with plenty Of ventilation.
When the calf is dropped 1t is well to
blanket the COW until she regains her
normal condition. In the absence Of
anything better, gunny sacks sewed
together will do very well. Light, loos-
e.ning feeds, water from which the chill
has been taken off, should be given.
Cold water Is liable to cause CONTRACT
ton Of the womb and retention Of the
afterbirth. II the latter is not dis
charged in from twenty-four to forty
eight hours 1t should be removed.
'If the udder Is heated and caked
1t is advisable to milk the cow FREE
uuently, tho not quite dry. and the I'D
der should be steamed by rubbing Nth
IL flannel cloth dipped in as hot water
us the hand will bear, after which the
,ldder should be rubbed dry, and treat
ed with camphor, olive oil, or CAM
phorated vaseline. II there are any
signs of constipation, 1t is well to adj
minister from one and one-half to two
pounds Of Epson salts dissolved In wa
ter. All these points will aid materi-
ally in keeping the COW in a good.
healthy condition, and consequently
give the calf a good, healthy start.
LAS soon as the calf is licked dry by
Its mother, 1t should have strength en-
ough to rise and suck; If it has not,
1t should be assisted. The calf may
be taken away from its mother after
its first meal, or. IL preferred, can be
left with the COW until the milk IS
good. It is easier to teach the calf
TO drink II 1t is taken away early.
Our experience is that II the calf Is
taken away at once, or when four or
five days old It will make good gains
the first week. but IL left two or three
weeks, the first seven days after wean-
ing will be losing period. If the
cows udder is calsed It is desirable to
leave the calf with her, as the rubbing
Of the calf tends to alleviate the In.
fammation.''