Oxford Democrat., 1917-01-02
The Cow at calvlug Time.
HOW TO OBTAIN THE BEST RESULTS AT
THIS PERIOD.

There Ii no time In the whole milking
period that has suoh an important bear.
Ing on the establishment of standard
for production for the year, as the period
previous to and following calving time
II is understood by many, but not BY
all, that II COW is allowed from six
weeks to two months in which to rest
from one lactation period to the next,
she will yield more than when milked
continuously up to the time of parturi-
tion. We know the effect upon our
selves, when our faculties are continu-
ously at work, especially when the
nerves are brought into play. And 1t 10
q fact that parturition vitality disturbs
the nervous and physical activities, es-
pecially the forces of digestion. The
act OF calving brings stimulation to the
milk producing organs, which is the only
natural and effective means of stimulat-
ing milk secretion; and 1t 10 . serious
mistake not to make the most Of It. 1t
is necessary to handle the cow in such
manner as to derive full benefit from this
stimulation, since with most cows 1t
rapidly wears off IL not utilized.
Rather liberal feeding, which actually
build mild nutrients on the body, during
the last few weeks Of the lactation period
and while the COW Is dry, is the secret OF
preparing the COW for the succeeding
lactation period. This may appear to be
wasting feed, but this is the important
period when 1t is most valuable. During
the last few weeks of the milking period
grain may be fed at the rate of one
pound to each two pounds Of milk pro-
duced, reducing at the period when the
cow is to be dried. A good many have
trouble In drying of persistent mixers
by the plan Of skipping milkings, but
when less than fourteen pounds OF milk
is yielded, daily milking can be discon.
tinued at any time without serious diff.
Guilty II accompanied by a reduction In
the feed. The udder will become filled,
but the fluid contents will soon be ab.
sorbed. When dry, about eight pounds
of grain should be fed daily; more ii the
COW is in poor condition. 1t would not be
profitable to feed inferior COWS this way.
These, however, can not always be de-
tected from the others unless all have an
equal chance, and wedding is practised,
based upon the record of production.
The grain ration should be bulky, laxa-
tive and nutritious, having slightly more
carbohy ydrates than milk ration, with a
nutritive ratio of about one of protein to
seven of carbohydrate and fat equivalent.
During this period protein and fatty
tissues are actually being stored upon
the body to be used In the production OF
milk before the cow Is in shape to digest
and assimilate full ration. A COW is
like toboggan In that the higher she
starts at the beginning of her slide, the
faster and longer will she keep running.
It is Just as serious to crowd the appe-
tite during the first month after oalving
as to neglect to lay on this supply Of
nutrients. The COW should be kept hun.
CRY. If fed all she would eat harm will
be done, and check to her flow Is the
natural result Of going "ot feed" as
most COWS reach their limit early by this
sort of handling.
A week before calving reduce the
grain to four or five pounds, feeding
mostly bran and oats. On the day of
calving pound and q half Of EPSON
salts, iukewarm water, and good hay, are
enough for q well-conditloned cow, al
though two quarts of bran mash may be
useful. Begin the next day feeding
lightly, and after four or Eve days intro
duce grain mixture gradually. Increase
this gradually about one-fourth pound
per day. Do not expect cow to handle
all the feed called for by her yield OF
milk. II she has been properly con-
ditioned and is coming to good flow,
from one month to six weeks is early
enough to get her on full feed. For from
three to six months she should gradually
lose the flesh stored up.-F. G. White,
Connecticut Agricultural College.