198 The Care of Animals 



Bulls may be used for breeding at two years old, but 

 should be limited to fifteen or twenty cows. A judi- 

 cious use of young breeding males will greatly prolong 

 their vigor and fertility. 



SIGNS OF PREGNANCY 



It is often important to determine whether a female 

 is pregnant, as the value of the animal may be enhanced 

 or lessened by such a condition. In its early stages, 

 pregnancy is difficult to recognize. One of the first 

 signs is the absence of the usual period of heat, or 

 rutting, although in some cases a pregnant animal 

 will take service by the male. Service is usually re- 

 sented by the female. There is a tendency for the 

 animal to be more quiet than usual, and to take on 

 fat more readily. This fact is sometimes taken advan- 

 tage of by unscrupulous persons who breed animals, 

 when beginning to fatten them for the market. In 

 some cases, a pregnant female becomes more cross 

 toward other animals and will drive them away. As 

 pregnancy advances, the belly becomes more pendulous 

 and movements of the fetus (the young animal in the 

 womb) become apparent, especially after the animal 

 has taken a drink of cold water. These are peculiar 

 jerking or kicking movements, and are observed in 

 the region of the dam's flank, particularly on the right 

 side. They can often be felt by placing the hand firmly 

 against the fiank. In cows, as pregnancy advances, 

 there is often a small rope of mucus, called by cattle- 

 men a "tag," hanging from the vulva. In" large ani- 



