The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1921-01-05
CARE OF BREEDING COWS
BEFORE AND AFTER THE
CALVING PERIOD

The proper care of the breeding
cows, and particularly during a per-
iod of about three weeks before and !
like period after calving, is essen
tial to success in the raising of cat
tie.
The number of breeding cows main
tanned in one lot or yard depends up
on the disposition of the cattle. An oc-
casional cow is observed that should }
be kept in separate lot because Of
injury she may do to other cows.
Hereford cows are usually of such a
disposition that six to fifteen can be
profitably maintained in one lot. The
breeding cows should be provided with
covered shed with ample protection !
from storms. The arrangement of
the shelter will therefore vary with
the location of the herd. The shed
should be amply provided with bed
ding and should be cleaned daily.
Alfalfa in quantities varying from
80 to so pounds daily will maintain
breeding cows through the winter
season. Substitutes for alfalfa, US
ing such quantities as will provide
an equal food value, such as Japanese
clover, cowpeas, timothy, clover and
prairie hay, will serve the same pur-
pose. In some sections, and es-
pecially in some seasons, the supply
Of hay or roughage is very limited and
the breeding cows are maintained on
the range and fed 1 to pounds of I
cottonseed cake daily. This is not an
ideal ration, but circumstances re-
= quire its use. The breeding cows
must be carefully observed daily and
the breeding records consulted Every
COW should be placed in properly
bedded, lighted and ventilated box
= stall every night for period of at
> least two weeks prior to the time of
e calving. Every COW that is placed in
; box stall should be given a ration
/ for the production of milk, such ra-
/ ton being gradually increased up to
u a full milk ration, in order to stimu-
I late the production of sufficient milk,
if possible, to maintain her calf and
d thus avoid the necessity of a nurse
d cow
e, After the cow has calved, she should
l. be kept separate with her calf and
t. properly housed at night until the
j. calf is ten days or two weeks old,
Is when they can be placed with other
X cows and calves. The number of
p cows and calves that can be kept in
w the same lot will depend upon the dis
~ position of the cows but should moi
I'd exceed II or Is head during colo
q weather. The shelter provided fol
at the cows with calves should be ample
ar for protection. The feed should con
ep sist Of a hay and grain ration, select
I'd ing the ration for the purpose O.
milk production.
r. Some purebred breeders have sui
in fered extensive losses of both cow
IN and calves, due to the fact that tn
10 cows were too fat at calving time
ur Excessive fat is hindrance to tn
ar normal delivery of a calf, because 0
at the mechanical interference of fat de
Of posits around the uterus and also be
~ cause Of the weakened condition O
ev the muscles essential in the muscula
is tissue that forces the calf from tn
IF uterus to the outside world.
be The first principle in the pdeventio
Of difficulty in calving is to main
,,,s tain the cow in normal condition. a
ov to flesh and exercise. Difficult caly
80 ing, due to improper position of tn
-. calf IN the uterus, can be overcome j
~, most cases by annual manipulation {
a the calf within the uterus, but sue
~ procedure should be done only by
e competent veterinarians; otherwis
Do+ permanent injury of the COW may r,
a., suit. If a cow does not effect d,
- livery of her calf in few hours tin
the veterinarian should be called.
Springer cows should be so NAH
- tanned that they obtain ample exc,
Iu.m else because insufficient exercise d
: minlshes the possibility of normal d.
livery of calves.
: The proper ration for the COW b.
: fore and after calving is of prin
: Importance in the prevention of tt
: development of dietary disturbanc,
IN the calf which is manifested b
: scour and not infrequently terminal,
: indeath. The injudicious use of nur:
5. cows has been responsible for gor,
: ing and the sepuential development
: Indigestion, colic,. scour and sever
{. stunning or death of the calf.