Middletown transcript., 1906-02-03
CARE AND MANAGEMENT OF cows
How They ShouId be Fed, Watered to
Prevent Milk Fever

me (by letter or through the Dalryntail)
some practical advice on the care q
management Of the COW, thirty da. before
and ten days after calving. How should
she be fed, watered and salted through
this period, to prevent danger OF milk
fever, garget, or caked udder?
Have been reading the Ddtrynadn one
year, and do not expect to be without it.
This is beef and dual purpose district.
have the only dairy bred bull in a
radius of ten miles, and want above infor-
formation for myself and the patrons OF
this bull. K. I. II. /.
Pittsboro, Ind.
When the COW is dry, her food should
be chiefly roughage, but rich in protein
and ash, for these two elements are nee
essary to develop the foetus properly. A
small allowance, say two pounds Of meal
daily, will be quite enough aud it should
be rich in protein, but not in carbohy-
drates. Bran or oats, or a mixture of bran
and oats, together witha little oil meal al
lowance, makes very good grain ration
for COW just before calying.
Corn silage or roots is a very good feed
to give at this time, for they serve as
laxative and help to keep the COWS sys
TEN in good condition. Alfalfa and elo-
yer hay make splendid dry roughage. A
COW at this time should be fed 10 more
roughage than she will eat up clean, to
prevent her getting into the habit OF eat
ing the most palatable part of the rough
age, and wasting much good feed. The
COW that is on good pasture, needs no
grain or roughage, unless she is thin in
flesh, then it is well to feed her literally.
Since the discovery of the air treatment
for milk fever, it is not necessary to feed
the COW lightly for several weeks previous
to calving, but she may be fed well right
up to the time of parturition. Sometimes
heavy feed or luxuriant pasture will stim-
ulate heavy mixers to produce too much
milk prior to calving, but such cases are
few, and it is usually an animal that is in
good condition, and does not need to be
fed very MUCH. Occasionally some COWS
have to be milked before they drop their
calves, and there should be no hesitancy |
In 30 doing when the fpllness Of the udder |
indicates that the COW should be mlIked I; |
for there is danger of running the udder
unless it is relieved.
If the COW is running in good pasture,
which is supplied with plenty of shade
and fresh water, she needs but little at
tention until few days before calving.
II she is separate from the other cattle,
and is carefully watched by the herds
man, she may be left in the pasture un-
III she has Oalved, providing tile weather
q warm and dry. In cold weather, a
comfortable box stall, well bedded, is
lie place for the COW two or three weeks
before she is due to calve. This is a
period when good care and little careful
Ittention count for good DEAL
Care of Cow at Calving Time
Ii it is in the summer the COW needs
'ut little attention, the attendant should
tote, however, the condition of the COW,
nd after the calf is licked dry, it should
ave strength enough to rise and suck; if
has not, it should be assisted. After
he calf has had its allowance, the COW
hould be milked nearly dry, and if
Idder is in feverish or eaked condition,
he cow should be milked frequently
M her udder bathed in hot water and
hen rubbed until perfectly dry, and then
pply lard, lubricating oil, or poke root,
live oil or camphorated vaseIine and
massage thoroughly. Under such condi-
ions pounds to pound and a half of
Ipsom salts should be given; Tor they have
cooling and cleansing effect upon the
nimal's body.
1t is well to give her about three pounds
{ ground oats or bran over which has
'een poured hot water half an hour be-
ore. This has stimulating effect " hen
n the form OF mash, especially when
made OF oats, and 1t helps to remove this
lacenta. A pail OF warm water will be
realty appreciated by the COW, for her
ystem is somewhat exhausted and fever
sh at this time. In no case should the
ow have cold water to drink or be ex-
osed to cold draughts Of air. In chilly
feather it is welfto keep the COW blank
ted until she regains her normal condi-
ion; gunny sacks sewed together will an
wer the purpose if there is nothing bet s
er at hand.
At the beginning of her milking period ]
he COW should be fed very lightly, pref
rably bulky and loosening feeds, and |
; she increases in milk flow her ration I
,ay gradually be increased until she is t
eceiving all that she is capable of handl-
lg to advantage. 1t fakes from three to
'ur weeks to bring her to a full flow of |
nix and to the eating of full ration. {
here is no other time in her period of i
!ctation that care and judicious feeding \
ave such an important bearing upon her t
ears record as this. Feed her literally, +
ut do not over-feed. 1t is well to have i
lit SO that COWS can have free access to it il
all times. {
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