408 FEEDS AND FEEDING 



age, no additional feed need be supplied, but if pastures become short, 

 she should be fed enough additional feed, especially silage or soiling 

 crops, to put her in good condition before calving. In winter, except 

 in the case of a test cow (674), only sufficient concentrates should be 

 fed to put her in proper flesh. No better ration can be provided than 

 silage and legume hay with 2 to 4 Ibs. of concentrates, depending on 

 the condition of the cow. Just previous to calving time, the feed should 

 be slightly laxative, tho if on pasture, no especial attention need be 

 given to this point. The cow soon to calve should have exercise, but 

 must not be chased by dogs or driven thru narrow gates. 



663. Gestation period ; calving time. The average gestation period of 

 the cow is placed by various authorities at from 280 to 285 days. Wing 

 of the New York (Cornell) Station 20 found the average of 182 recorded 

 gestation periods for the cow to be 280 days, ranging from 264 to 296 

 days. About an equal number of births occurred on each day from the 

 274th to the 287th, inclusive. The gestation period was not different for 

 the sexes. 



Unless the herd is at pasture, the cow should be kept in a clean, 

 comfortable, well-bedded box stall at calving time. If her bowels are 

 not moving freely, give a drench of Epsom salts. As parturition ap- 

 proaches, the udder will become distended and hard, and when the mus- 

 cles on each side of the tail head relax, leaving a hollow on each side, 

 the calf may be expected within 24 hours, or 3 to 4 days at the longest. 

 If a considerable amount of concentrates have been fed while the cow 

 was dry to get her into good condition, the allowance should be re- 

 duced a few days before calving, and laxative feeds used, such as a 

 mixture of 2 parts bran and 1 part linseed meal. If this does not have 

 the desired effect, a dose of 1 quart of linseed oil or 1 Ib. of Epsom 

 salts should be given. 21 Freedom from milk fever and other troubles 

 after calving is largely due to the feed and care the cow receives just 

 previous to freshening. 



The cow should not be molested during calving, unless assistance 

 is required. For 2 or 3 days after calving, her drinking water should 

 be lukewarm, and she should be protected from cold drafts, for her 

 vitality is then low. If necessary, the afterbirth should be removed 

 by a thoroly competent person, and the cow should never be allowed 

 to eat it. Many experienced dairymen advise separating the calf 

 from the cow within 24 hours after birth, as the cow usually does not 

 then miss the calf and fret for it, as she would had it been left with her 

 for 2 or 3 days. 



The feed for the first few days after calving should be very limited 

 in amount and cooling and laxative in nature. The first day or two 

 only legume hay and a limited amount of silage should be fed, with 

 bran mashes. Then such a mixture as bran, oats, and linseed meal 

 may be substituted for the bran. High-producing cows should be 



"N. Y. (Cornell) Bui. 162. aj McCandlish, Iowa Cir. 34. 



