438 



Chapter XXXVIII. 

 ON CALVES: THEIR REARING AS STOCK— AND FOR VEAL. 



cows. 



It has been shown bv some very interesting experiments, made a few years 

 ago at Paris, by M. Teissier, respecting the periods of gestation in differ- 

 ent animals, that the time during which the cow goes with calf is very 

 uncertain ; for out of 575, of which an account of the date was taken when 

 they were put to the bull, and when they calved, it was found that — 



21 calved between the 240th and 270th day : the mean term being 259i. 



544 Ditto 270th ,, 299th 282. 



10 Ditto 299th ,, 321st 303. 



In most cases, therefore, between nine and ten months may be assumed 

 as the usual period ; though with a bull calf, she has been generally ob- 

 served to go about forty-one weeks, and a few days less with a female. 

 It seldom happens that more than one calf is produced at a time, though 

 sometimes two, and even three- — though very rarely — are brought forth* ; 

 and in these instances, if a male and female appear together, the latter is 

 commonly incapable of procreation, and is by country people called a " free 

 martin." These supposed barren cows have, however, been occasionally 

 known to produce calves; and the bull is always perfect. The cow is 

 always ready to take the bull soon after calving, but should not be permitted 

 until four or five weeks have elapsed : it however occurs at various other 

 times during the spring and summer, thus enabling the farmer to regulate 

 the birth at such time as may be to him most convenient; but may be 

 hastened by high feeding t, and is known by the appearance of her bearing. 

 It lasts for three or four days, and recurs again in about three weeks, if 

 the cow lias not conceived ; otherwise she will show no disposition to 

 receive him. This, however, is sometimes deceptive, as the period of her 

 being in season occasionally passes over without conception, and it was 

 not until between the third and fourth month after copulation that preg- 

 nancy could be ascertained, by the dropping of the belly and the motion of 

 the foetus. Late discoveries in veterinary science have now, however, 

 enabled every skilful practitioner to decide the point within six or eight 

 weeks ; and, indeed, with proper attention to the mode of examination, no 

 intelligent breeder can be easilv deceived J. 



AVhen the complete term of gestation approaches, the cow should be 

 placed apart from other cattle, in a quiet paddock close to tlie homestead, 

 in order that assistance may be at hand in case of a difficult birth ; and if 

 she be full in flesh, or has been previously fed upon very nourishing food, 



* An instance is mentioned in the Bulletiiides Sciences of a cow belonging to a French 

 agriculturist, which produced nine calves at three successive births, namely, four at the 

 first, three at the second, and two at the third ; all of which, except two of the first 

 birth, grew up and were nursed by the mother ; but the heifers afterwards produced each 

 only a single calf. 



f Some nostrums recommended for this purpose are too absurd to be repeated ; but 

 that advised by Parkinson, in his " Treatise on Live Stock," is so harmless that it may 

 be safely tried : — '• Give a quart or more of milk, immediately drawn from a cow that 

 is in seasDU, before the bull has been admitted to her, and in three or four days it will 

 have the desired effect.'' Vol. i. p. 101. 



J See the Farmer's Series, in the Library of Useful Knowledge: Youatt's " Cattle," 

 p. 533. 



