Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1915-06-01
The iielfer with Her First Calf.

Those who have been wise enough to
breed the heifer to drop her first calf iu
the fall, have made one step toward
making profitable dairy COW, for she
has good chance of forming the long
term or continuous milking habit. The
quickenipg effect Of parturition will
hardly have lost its influence over milk
secretion, when an added stimulus
comes in the shape of the lush grasses
and other herbage of early spring, and
il the heifer is not bred for at least six
months after calving (uine months
would be better), so that she has fully
recuperated from the drain Of CESSATION,
she will have perfected her own growth,
and be in condition to milk continuous,
ly for more than q year.
The date of breeding must be record
ed, so that at eight or ten weeks before
the second calf is expected, the "drying
up" process may begin. This should be
gradual and the flow of milk should be
naturally diminished by withholding
some of the succulent food given to the
cows in full milk, and milk secretion
should also be discouraged by not
"milking clean" In fact, only enough
milk should be drawn to relieve any
teuseness of the udder that may be
present. The intervals between the
pretended milkings should be success
sively longer aud with CESSATION well ad'
vanced, and the fetus requiring daily
increase of nourishment II will not be
long until the surplus Of the food beyond
the need for daily maintenance, which
has before gone for milk production,
will now be transferred to the unborn
Young. and il there is more than is re-
ouired for vigorous growth, 1t Is by
wise provision of nature stored up TO be
used as a reserve when demands are
again made for milk. :,
If any cow be treated as here advised
when drying her up, there is no danger
of caked udder, garget and other
troubles which follow in the wake OF
carelessness at this time.
Caked udder and more serious all
ments at the beginning of lactation are
freauentl the result OF want OF knowl-
edge of how to care for the COW or beif-
er before and Immediately after freshen.
ING. III one wants to be safe from all
difficulties, do not give any stimulating,
heavy grain feed for week or ten days
before calving. II the COW is not on
pasture, roots, bran mashes and such
like food of a laxative nature should be
given, and the udder watched, and at
the first signs of heat and hardness
little milk should be drawn to relieve
these conditions.
Be sure that the bowels are kept
loose, both before and after the advent
of the calf, and give plenty of water,
warmed to pleasant temperature, to sat
isfy the desire for drink. Sometimes a
handful or two of bran with little, salt
makes the water more palatable, and
supplies little food also. After the
third day, little grain may be added to
the daily ration, but only little to be
increased, however, from day to day
until in two weeks the COW should be
ready to take full feed il all is well. Be-
sides the feed the milking must be look
ed after the first few days. Never at
this period milk any quarter of the I'D
der dry, or the COW is liable to milk
fever or parturieut apoplexy, and her
usefulness as mixer is greatly lessen
ed, and even her life may be endanger-
ed. 1t is so easy to prevent this diff.
Guilty, which affects always the heaviest
mixers, that it is pity that every own
or does not know how to take the neces-
sary precautions to prevent loss from
this source.
Let us repeat: Feed the cows stint
iugly food just previous and for several
days after calviSg, and do not fail to
watch the udder before the calf comes,
and milk out all the teats little, but af
ter the birth Of the calf never milk the
udder dry until the fifth day, and all the
ailments incident to calving can be
avoided and the future usefulness of the
heifer or cow insured.