332 DAIRYING COWS AND THEIR MANAGEMENT 



extremely poor, or, on the other hand, very fat " eild " cattle 

 may not come " a-bulling " so often, while a few continue to 

 bull although they are pregnant. This latter peculiarity has 

 been noticed during the early stages of tuberculosis, should 

 the disease affect the organs of reproduction, but also at times 

 without any apparent cause, but nymphomania. 



2. The right side of the belly becomes enlarged, and after 

 a time the calf, in the form of a hard lump, can be felt with 

 the hand near the flank, and seen to "struggle " or " quick " at 

 times, especially when the cow drinks cold water. 



Signs of approaching Parturition. i. Enlargement and 

 firmness of the udder and teats. 2. Fluid may be drawn 

 from the teats of a more milk-like character and less watery 

 than that found in the teats of " eild " cows. 3. Loosening 

 and enlargement of the hinder parts, as the external organs 

 of generation, and relaxation of the pelvic ligaments. Large 

 heavy cows find it difficult at this time to rise or walk. These 

 three indications frequently last for days. 4. Within a short 

 time of calving, which may extend to a few hours, a cow be- 

 comes restless, lies down and rises frequently, and whisks her 

 tail, as if in pain. 5. The right side becomes flatter when the 

 calf passes into the pelvic bones as the labour period begins. 



Calving. It is bad practice to assist a cow too soon, and 

 it is equally wrong to leave her in difficult labour until she is 

 worn out and the pains become weak. The head and legs of 

 the young within the mother are doubled up, and it assumes 

 the form of a ball enclosed within a bag called the " amnion," 

 " clean," " foetal-membrane," or " after-birth." The bag con- 

 tains a slimy fluid, in which the calf floats, and which lubri- 

 cates the passage when the membrane is broken. When 

 assistance is given, the hand and arm should be well rubbed 

 with carbolic oil before being inserted. The right position 

 for the calf is with the head and fore-legs " forward," like a 

 man about to dive, the head and neck being stretched out so 

 that they rest upon the limbs. When the hind-legs appear 

 first it is not necessary to turn the calf before pulling as in 

 the case of many other false presentations. The stifle joints 

 may catch on the pelvic bones surrounding the passage and a 

 good pull, first on one leg and then on the other, may be 

 required. 



The cow should lie on her side during the operation 



