100 EVERY MAN HIS OWN FARRIER 



the animal's constitution, entail a' feeble and unhealthy- 

 issue, exhaust the powers of the devoted animal, and 

 not only shorten her life, but occasion many and seri- 

 ous disorders. 



Heifers should not on any account be put to bull 

 before they have passed the second year of their exis- 

 tence ; indeed if three years be allowed, the much 

 better condition of the calves will amply repay the one 

 year's delay. Cows may be expected to produce a 

 calf every year, but if an occasional year be allowed 

 to pass without their breeding, it will much improve 

 their condition ; as over breeding, like over working, 

 exhausts the powers of the animal's constitution. The 

 general rule with regard to milch cows, is, not to put 

 them again to bull before they cease to give milk ; 

 cows that are not in calf are generally in heat every 

 three weeks ; at which time, and at the moment they 

 are most in heat they should be put to the bull, as they 

 will conceive more readily. There are cows which 

 continue in heat only a very short time: with such 

 this attention is the more necessary. They are known 

 to be in heat by the following signs ; they are con- 

 tinually lowing, and mounting each other, or upon the 

 bull ; they are restless, and often running about ; there 

 is also an elevation of the tail, a swelling of the gen- 

 ital parts, and a slight discharge of white glairy mat- 

 ter from the shape. After they have taken the bull, 

 they should be taken away, and not brought to him 

 again, unless they are again in heat. 



There are cows that never conceive, but yet con- 

 tinue to be in heat about every third week ; and it has 

 been observed, that weak, flat sided cows, or such as 

 are consumptively disposed, are often in heat again, 

 after being bulled. Various reasons may be assigned 

 to account for these circumstances ; but as they arc 



