JERSEY CATTLE. 225 



tion ; mangolds, though increasing milk flow, are too cold and 

 watery to be of much service. A few of them, however, kept 

 till spring, may be used mixed with chaff. Cows fed with 

 artificial food, and receiving a daily proportion of silage and 

 parsnips or carrots, will not require much hay. About seven 

 pounds cut into chaff, with four pounds oat straw, will be a fair 

 daily allowance in winter. 



In very cold weather the water given to the cows should be 

 slightly warmed. 



Before quitting the subject of feeding, it may be remarked 

 that the Jersey, being a small cow, should be fed in propor- 

 tion to her size. It is very common to overfeed them. If she 

 receives more than is needed to develope her butter production 

 to its full normal extent, the surplus will be to all intents 

 wasted. [For information upon this important and interesting 

 point, viz., the economic use of food, the reader may be referred 

 to the Report on the Yernon Experiments, published by the 

 British Dairy Farmers' Association, pp. 60-63, 1886.] 



Milk fever is undoubtedly the scourge of the breed, and its 

 victims include some of the most noted cows, only brief remarks 

 tending to its prevention can be offered here. This disease does 

 not commonly overtake heifers or old cows. The greatest 

 danger appears to threaten animals with third and fourth calf, 

 especially those in high condition, or constitutionally deep 

 milkers. The months of July and August are marked as very 

 fatal to cows of this stamp. In all such cases watchful care 

 must be exercised. If the cow be dried off (some deep-milking 

 Jerseys are never allowed to dry) her food must be restricted — 

 artificial food entirely suspended, and green food administered 

 sparingly. She must have fresh air and exercise ; and for this 

 purpose may be kept in a close yard, or a pasture eaten close 

 by sheep. Nine days before due to calve a dose of linseed 

 oil — say, a half -pint to a pint — should be given, and repeated 

 every other day if any tendency to costiveness appear. If, in 

 spite of these precautions, the symptoms before calving are 

 unusual and such as to cause apprehension, send at once for 

 the veterinary surgeon. 



