968 PRACTICE OF AGRICULTURE. Part III. 



6188. Where cheese is the principal object, the management in respect to the cows must 

 be the same, 



6189. When the object is the suckling of calves, the farmer should provide himself with 

 a breed of cows suited to the quality of his land. Where the farm abounds with fertile 

 pastures, watered with wholesome streams, and not far distant from the yard, so that the 

 cows may be turned immediately out of the suckling house upon their feed, the benefit 

 will be in every respect superior to wliat can be expected from an arable farm, or where 

 the green land is in a small proportion to the ploughed . for in this latter case, the cows 

 must depend for their sustenance chiefly on artificial fodder ; such as clover, rye-grass, 

 turnips, and other roots and herbage. 



6190. The cow-house should be of a size adapted to tlie number of the beasts. Each 

 cow should be driven into the house at suckling-time, and her head confined in a proper 

 manner {Jig. 649. )> having some fodder lying con- 

 stantly before her, and a space left between every 

 beast. When they become accustomed to this kind 

 of restraint, they will without any trouble come into 

 the places destined for them, when the calves may be 

 suckled with the greatest ease and facility. 



6191. The time cows should become dry before their 

 calving is not agreed on, some contending, that they 

 may be milked almost to the time of their dropping 

 the calf without injury ; while others maintain, that it is absolutely necessary that they 

 should be laid dry from one to two months, both for the advantage of themselves and 

 their calves. It is probable that much in this business must depend on the manner in 

 which they are kept ; as where they are well fed they may be continued in milk till 

 within a week or two of their calving, without suffering any injury whatever from it j 

 but in the contrary circumstances it may be better to let them run dry for a month, six 

 weeks, or more, according to their condition, in order to their more fully recruiting their 

 strength. It appears not improbable, but that the longer the milking is continued, the 

 more free the cows will be from indurations and other affections of the udder ; which is 

 a circumstance deserving of attention. Where only one or two cows are kept for the 

 supply of a family, it is likewise useful to know, that by good feeding they may be con- 

 tinued in milk without any bad consequences till nearly the time of calving. In the 

 Agricultural Survey of the West Riding of Yorkshire it is stated, that no advantage was 

 found on trial to result from allowing the cows to go dry two months before calving. 

 They have there been kept in milk within ten days of the time of dropping the calf. 

 This practice, however, cannot be considered generally advisable. 



6192. Cows sometimes slip their calves before they are suflSciently grown. Where this 

 occurs, it is essentially necessary to remove such cows immediately from the cow-yards, 

 or from mixing with the other cattle, for a few days. But where cows are much subject 

 to such accidents, it is the best method to get quit of them as soon as possible, as they will 

 seldom turn out profitable afterwards. 



61 93. Coivs should be kept constantly in good condition, as where they are ever suffered 

 to become very lean, and that in the winter season, it is impossible that they can he 

 brought to afford a large quantity of milk, by getting them into perfect condition in the 

 summer months. Where cows are lean at the period of calving, no management after- 

 wards is ever capable of bringing them to afford for that season any thing near the pro- 

 portion of milk that they would have done if they had been supported in proper condition 

 during the winter. Food of the most nourishing and succulent kinds should therefore 

 be regularly given in suitable proportions in the cold inclement months, and the animals- 

 be kept warm, and well supplied with pure water. Some advise their being cleaned by 

 combing and other means ; but this is a practice, which, though useful in making them 

 yield their milk more freely, can perhaps seldom be employed on an extensive scale 

 with advantage. 



6194. Where the herd of cows is extensive, an account should always be kept of the time 

 when each cow takes the bull, that she may be dried off at a reasonable distance of time 

 before the expected term of gestation be completed. The usual time when the cow is 

 dried off is two months before her calving, when she ought to be suffered to lie quiet, 

 and not to be brought up with the other cows at milking or suckling-time. According 

 to some, if a cow be continued in milk nearer to the time of calving than the period above 

 allotted, it will not only greatly injure her future progeny by rendering it weakly and 

 stunted, but will also have an ill effect on her own hcaltli : while others, as we have seen 

 (6191.)> *^onsider ten days or a fortnight as sufficient. When a cow is four months 

 gone with calf, the fact may easily be ascertained by pressing upon her off'-flank, when 

 the calf will be felt to kick against the hand. 



6195. Cows may be known to be near the time of calving, by springing at the udder or 

 at the bearing. By springing at the udder is meant the collection of liquid in the bag. 



