346 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



For the cows that are to freshen during the summer or early fall it 

 is a good plan to have a small pasture set aside so that they may have 

 abundance of pasture grass and not be molested by the other cows. In 

 addition to this a few pounds of ground oats and in some cases a small 

 quantity of bran will be sufficient. Cows that are to freshen during the 

 winter should receive from 20 to 25 pounds of corn silage, all the clover 

 or alfalfa hay they desire and a grain mixture of three parts ground oats, 

 two parts bran and one part oil meal. The amount of grain per day is to 

 be governed by the individual animal. Animals thin in flesh may be 

 given a small quantity of corn but should not be crowded, but rather 

 fleshed up gradually. Timothy hay and cottonseed meal are not desir- 

 able as they are rather constipating, while laxative feeds are needed at 

 this time. Too large a quantity of corn is likely to have a bad effect upon 

 the system. It is well to reduce the ration slightly just prior to calving 

 as by so doing the danger of milk fever and after-calving troubles is de- 

 creased to some extent. 



A few days before calving put the cow in a clean, disinfected, well- 

 bedded boxstall, if her bowels are not moving freely, a dose of three- 

 fourths to one pound of epsom salts or one quart of raw linseed oil will 

 prove very beneficial. A grain ration of two parts bran and one part oil 

 meal is very good at this time. 



For a few days after calving the cow's drinking water should be luke 

 warm. In addition to alfalfa or clover hay and a small quantity of 

 silage, she should be fed bran mashes or a small allowance of bran, oil 

 meal and ground oats. If the cow does not pass the afterbirth promptly 

 and the man in charge does not understand the anatomy of the repro- 

 ductive organs, a competent veterinarian should be called; that should 

 be done also when the cow has difficulty in calving. 



Care of Cow First Thirty Days After Calviug. 



If the cow has been properly cared for the first three days she may 

 then be placed on dry and more solid food. The manner in which she is 

 fed during the next thirty days determines largely the character of the 

 work she will do during her lactation period. Experienced feeders of 

 beef cattle realize that thirty days are required to get steers on full feed, 

 and likewise, the dairy cow needs to be given thirty days. Without 

 doubt parturition weakens the digestive apparatus and heavy feeding 

 soon after calving is liable to be followed by indigestion, bloat or im- 

 paction. During the first thirty days after parturition the maternal 'in- 

 stinct is at its highest pitch and during this time, if properly cared for, 

 the cow can be brought to her greatest possible milk flow. 



To do this, the feeds must be suited to the individual cow's needs. Be- 

 ginning on the fourth day with five pounds of grain daily, the ration 

 should be increased slowly — say at the rate of half pound each alternate 

 day. This rate of increase is rapid enough, for the cow will respond as 

 well to a half pound increase as she will to a pound. This increase may 

 continue just as long as the cow continues to increase profitably in her 

 milk flow. When she ceases to respond, then the feed should be lessened 



