8 BETTER DAIRY FARMING 



way to help solve the afterbirth problem is to feed properly before 

 calving. 



Unless milk fever is feared the calf should be left with its mother 

 for the first two days, in order that it may get the colostrum, as 

 the first milk secreted is called. This milk is laxative and it is 

 very necessary that the new-born calf should have it. 



For the first three or four days after calving the cow should 

 receive only a limited amount of feed and this feed should be 

 laxative in nature. At the end of this period, provided the cow 

 has a good appetite, the feed may be rather quickly increased to 

 that amount which was being received before calving time, and 

 this amount gradually raised according to her milk flow. 



18. Milk fever. — Milk fever is a disease which may occur with 

 any cow following calving no matter how well she is handled. It 

 seems especially likely to occur with high producers. Formerly 

 it was a very serious trouble but the modern treatment of distending 

 the udder with air is very effective and few fatalities occur where 

 the treatment is used. Every dairyman should own a milk fever 

 outfit for emergency use. Directions are furnished with the outfit. 

 However, because of the possibility of infection, it is better to call 

 a veterinarian to give the treatment and to explain the details of 

 the care needed. Contrary to the opinion held by many, it is a 

 good thing to milk the cow a little two or three times a day during 

 milk fever to make sure that all quarters are milking freely. 



