FARMERS' REGISTER— OF THE COW. 



211 



be well calculated, in every respect, for the sham- 

 bles; and the females of which riiight, when young, 

 produce abundant quantities of o'ood millv; yet, 

 when they reached eiglit or nine years of age, 

 might be easily fattened." This," he justly remarks, 

 "would be the most valuable breed that could be 

 propagated in any country; and, indeed, some of 

 the best English and Scottish breeds have almost 

 reached that point of perfection." Nor would the 

 attainment of that object be improbable, if more 

 attention were paid to use bulls from the best iat- 

 ting stock with the best milch cows. 



The cow is supposed, by some eminent natural- 

 ists, to arrive at [luberty at the end of eighteen 

 months, though instances have occurred where 

 these animals have produced calves before that 

 time. It is, indeed, said by some breeders, in the 

 northern part of this island, that young cows may 

 be sent to the bull as early as even one year old; 

 but there is then much danger in calving; and 

 although the practice would certainly be an essen- 

 tial impi'ovement where the dairy constitutes a pri- 

 mary object, i^rovided their growth would not thus 

 become stinted, it is yet generally considered inju- 

 dicious. It besides ofl;en happens that when such 

 j'oung heifers lall in calfj they miss in the following 

 year, and thus nothing is gained in stock, while to 

 the animal itself, it is evidently injurious. It is, 

 therelbre, advisable not to permit cows to take the 

 bull earlier than two years, though many breeders 

 defer it another year; and, in conibrmity to the lat- 

 ter opmion, the late eminent Mr. Bakewell deferred 

 sending his cows to bull till they were three years 

 old; they, however, often missed call J which acci- 

 dent SirJohn Sinclair attributes to thiscircumstance. 

 The most ])ropcr period must in some measure de- 

 pend on the breed, on the time at which the heifer 

 was lierself dropped, and on her condition; as some 

 which have been well kept will be more forward 

 at two, than others, which have been stinted, at 

 three years of age. 



An idea Ibrmerly prevailed, and is not even yet 

 entirely exploded, that the best mode of improving 

 stock, of every description, was to choose males of 

 the largest size. The consequences, however, 

 have generally been a great increase of bone with- 

 out any corresponding improvement in other qual- 

 ities, and such an incongruity of shape as evident- 

 ly denoted a mongrel breed. The most judicious 

 method is, to employ males of superior shape but 

 yet of a moderate size, and to couple them with 

 females nearly as large, if not larger. The nearer 

 the other ((ualities of bolh a]iproach to perfection, 

 of course the better will be their progeny; but it is 

 material that, even in their best points, there should 

 not be too gi'eat a disparity: gradual improvements 

 will always be followed by certain ultimate success; 

 while violent attempts to eflect a sudden change 

 generally disappoint expectation. 



The most advantageous time, in general, for a 

 cow to take thebull is, from the commencement of 

 May till the middle or close of July, so that she 

 may calve in January, and thence ibrward till 

 March or April. And as it is, in most places, a 

 matter of considerable importance to have a uni- 

 form supply of milk throughout the year, Ave con- 

 ceive it would prove a source of profit to a farmer, 

 possessing twelve, or any large number of milch 

 kinc, so to arrange the circumstance of breeding as 

 to have three or more cows dry at one time. 



The period of time during which cows are al- 



lowed to run dry previously to calving, is by no 

 means settled. By some graziers they are recom- 

 mended to be laid dry when iheyare about five or 

 six months gone with calf; but repealed and suc- 

 cessful experiments prove, that six weeks or two 

 months are sufficient fortius purpose; indeed, cows 

 kept in good condition are somelinips drawn until 

 within a fortnight of calving; but this is a practice 

 not to be recommended; for if tJie cow springs be- 

 fore she is dry, serious injury may ensue. 



The symptoms of calving are a distension, or 

 springing, of the udder, and gradual yielding of 

 the ligaments of the couples, or rump-bones, as 

 well as an increased leanness between the shape 

 and the udder, all of which are generally percepti- 

 ble about a fortnight before the cow is at her full 

 time; when that arrives it is marked, first, by a 

 slight elevation of the tail, and then by general 

 uneasiness untd the pains commence. 



In general, the cow conceives after once taking 

 the bull; but, if she should chance to fail, she 

 should go again to bull within three weeks after. 

 To prevent, however, this accident, it will be ad- 

 visable, as soon as convenient after her return 

 home, to throw a pailful of water on her udder 

 behind, and to keep her that night separate from 

 any others: for it not unfreciuently happens that 

 cows (after taking the bull) will ride each other; 

 in consequence of which they are apt to miscon- 

 ceive, and it is also supposed that, wiien they have 

 acquired that habit, the quantity of milk they 

 yield is thereby greatly diminished. 



The desire of having afrequentsupply of calves 

 has induced many to have recourse to artificial 

 means, in order to induce cows to take the bull; a 

 measure which cannot be sufficiently deprecated, 

 for the most efficacious mode of obtaining this ob- 

 ject undoubtedly consists in keejiing them in good 

 heart; in consequence of which nature will pre- 

 dominate over the animal's body, and cause it to 

 show signs of procreation through the medium of 

 the creature's constitutional feelings. When it 

 has been resorted to, one of the most effectual 

 means has been found to give a couple of quarts 

 of milk, warm from a cow in season, but before 

 she has taken the bull, and in a few days it has 

 taken effect. The time when a coio is in season, 

 is known by her restlessness, bj- her riding on other 

 cattle; and "by the inflamed appearance of the ex- 

 ternal parfs, accompanied by a discharge from the 

 vagina. These symptoms only continue lor three 

 or Tour days, sometimes not so long, and do not re- 

 turn for a fortnight or three weeks; and when con- 

 ception has taken place they disappear. 



The period of gestation, or time during which 

 the cow goes with calf is various: with a bull calfj 

 she usually goes about forty-one weeks, with a 

 difference of a few days either way; a cow calf 

 comes in less time. Between nine and ten months, 

 therefore, may be assigned lor the period of gesta- 

 tion; at the end of which time she produces one 

 calf] thou'Th instances sometimes occur when two, 

 or even three, are brought forth. It may not how- 

 ever be useless to remark, that some cows are na- 

 turally barren, which is said to be the case Avhen a 

 male and female calf are produced at the same 

 time. The male animal is periect in all respects; 

 but the female, which is denominated a free martin, 

 is incapable of propagating her species; it does not 

 vary very materially, in point of form or size, 

 from other neat cattle, though its flesh is errone- 



