LECTURE XLI. 



SUMMER CARE AND MANAGEMENT OF THE DAIRY 

 HERD. 



It is not a good practice to turn cattle out to grass too 

 early in the spring. The pastures are often soft and they 

 will be much injured by being cut up by the cattle's feet. 

 The young grass, too, is soft and washy. If the cows are 

 kept off it until the middle or 20th of May, the grass then 

 will have a good growth and will be able to shelter the 

 ground so that it will protect itself against the drouth which 

 comes in July and August. The grass will then be less watery 

 and will be much more nutritious. When the warm weather 

 comes let the cows have the run of the yard, but do not let 

 them get a taste of the new grass, for if they do they will 

 not take well to the dry hay and other preserved foods. 

 When it is time to turn them on the grass, let them out only 

 for an hour or so at first, gradually increasing the time until 

 in three or four days they can be left out altogether. 



Cows do not require any grain when the grass is good 

 in the pastures. Have salt where they can have ready 

 access to it at all times. Chunks of rock salt placed here 

 and there in the pasture serves very well. 



Provide an abundant supply of pure water. Do not 

 allow your dairy cows to drink out of a dirty, stagnant pool. 

 A well is better, and a clean tank or trough. See that the 

 drinking troughs are kept free from filth. 



The cow should not be asked to spend energy walking 

 back and forth to a distant pasture. Bear in mind that her 

 work is to manufacture milk for you, and it is your duty to 

 provide the raw material and have it in a convenient place 

 for her, if you expect her to give you a good return. 



It is well to make provision for the hot, dry weather in 

 .July and August, when blue grass has gone to seed and the 

 pastures become brown and seared. The dried up blue grass 

 is nutritious, it is true, but the dairy cow must have succu- 



