FEED AND CAKE OF THE DAIRY COW 409 



watched closely for signs of milk-fever, and the air treatment, the great 

 boon to dairymen, used if necessary. 



The yearly production of the cow depends in a large measure on the 

 feed she receives during the first month after calving. It is even more 

 essential to increase the concentrate allowance of the dairy cow gradual- 

 ly after calving, than it is to use care in getting the fattening steer on 

 full feed, for her system has been weakened by parturition. Starting 

 with 4 or 5 Ibs. of concentrates on the fourth or fifth day after calving, 

 the allowance should be increased gradually, at the rate of a half- 

 pound every other day until she is on full feed, for heavy feeding im- 

 mediately after calving is apt to lead to digestive disturbances. If 

 the udder is swollen and hard, even more care should be used in getting 

 the cows to the full ration. 



It is quite customary to save the seventh milking after the cow calves 

 for human use, altho sometimes the milk is not normal before the eighth 

 or ninth milking. A simple test for normal milk, is to heat a small 

 quantity to boiling; if the sample does not thicken, due to the high 

 content of albumin, the milk is usable. (115) 



664. Fall vs. spring freshening. Spring-fresh cows yield most of their 

 milk when low prices prevail for dairy products and the dairyman is 

 busiest with the crops. In winter such cows yield only a small flow at 

 most. On the other hand, the fall-fresh cow gives a large supply of 

 milk during the winter, and flushes again with the stimulus of pas- 

 ture in springtime. Fall-fresh cows should annually yield from 10 to 

 20 per ct. more milk than those calving in the spring. When cows 

 freshen in the fall, more of the work of milking comes in the winter 

 when farm work is slack. More time can be given to the raising of 

 the calves, and less trouble will be experienced from scours than during 

 the summer. Fall-dropped calves are large enough by spring to make 

 good use of pasture and better able to stand the hot weather. Under 

 this system, moreover, a larger supply of skim milk is available for 

 the pigs in winter when there is especial need of this valuable feed. 



