CARE AND FEEDING OP DAIRY CATTLE. 



49 



BITTER MILK. 



Sorue cows far along In the lactation period are liable to yield bitter milk, 

 especially on dry feed. Reducing the grain ration and administering a physic of 

 1 to 1% Ib. Epsom salts is effective in some cases. 



The flavour of milk may also be affected adversely by any sudden change of 

 food or by eating turnips, rape, wild onions, or strong-flavoured weeds or brush. 



HARD-MILKING Cows. 



This trouble is generally caused by too strong sphincter muscles surrounding the 

 opening of the teats. Some cases answer to the use of the teat-plug, made of lead 

 or hard rubber, which is kept in from one milking to another. This is used until 

 the muscles are relaxed. Where this treatment is not sufficient, the sphincter 

 muscles must be cut through by means of an instrument called the bistoury, and 



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An emergency milk-fever apparatus, (a.) Bicycle-pump, (b.) Bottle, 

 glass tubes or quills, and absorbent cotton, (c. ) Rubber tube and 

 milk-tube. 



the teat-plug kept in until the wound heals. The bistoury may sometimes be em- 

 ployed also to remove lumps or growths inside the teat, which often stop the milk- 

 How. 



Another way to remove lumps in the teats is for a veterinary surgeon to slit 

 the teat and cut them out while the cow is dry. This is sometimes the only way to 

 save the quarter. 



LEAKING AND TORN TEATS. 



This may be caused by weak sphincter muscles at the end of the teat, or it may 

 result from an opening higher up the teat. Small openings may be closed after each 

 milking by applying collodion. 



Injuries from barbed wire and other things which lay open a teat are often 

 difficult to cure when the animal is in milk. The lips of the new wound should be 

 drawn together and stitched. Openings left by old wounds will have to be scarified 



