CATTLE 71 



calf and cow should be left together for three 

 days in the box. 



The summer management of cows next 

 demands attention. They are turned to grass 

 towards the end of April or early in June, 

 according to the district. This transition from 

 indoor rations to pastures is not, however, 

 without its dangers. First there is the tendency 

 to scour, and secondly, though the milk yield 

 increases in quantity, it does not improve in 

 quality ; in fact, the proportion of fat in the milk 

 may possibly fall below the legal limit of 3 per 

 cent., as the nutritive qualities of grass in 

 April are comparatively low. Obviously then 

 the grass must be supplemented with some- 

 thing else, and undecorticated cotton cake is 

 the best addition that can be made ; its binding 

 nature counteracts the laxative tendency of the 

 grass and prevents scour. The cows must, 

 of course, come inside at night, and not be left 

 out permanently till they have become accus- 

 tomed to the grass and the weather is warmer. 

 As soon as the grass has attained its full feeding 

 value the question of concentrates will have to 

 be reconsidered, and the quantity will depend 

 entirely on the quality of the grass. Either of 



