78 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



vidualitj of the cow. It enters into lier ability to digest and 

 make milk, and into her every movement. These $30 cows 

 do not offer very much for a $200 man to spend his skill on, 

 but I think they are better to experiment on ; certainly better 

 than to put a $30 man at work on a $200 cow. 



There is not much danger from cold water before parturi- 

 tion, as there is a tendency to fever and a high temperature ; 

 I think the danger will be limited to a month before that time. 

 After parturition you have an entirely different condition, 

 with a tendency to a temj)erature below normal. The cow has 

 spent her strength, and is weak, and suddenly the blood flow 

 is changed from the uterus to the udder ; and then some one 

 comes along with a shovelful of feed. They do not want to 

 make blood then; they want to do the things that will not 

 make it. 



Question. Would you ever milk before parturition ? 



Professor Cook. If there is any tendency to inflammation 

 or gargeting, I would milk, but not if the bag is normal. If 

 there is a tendency to deposit poisonous matter in the udder, 

 you must get rid of it as quickly as you can. I think the 

 practice is to be condemned, unless absolutely necessary. 



Question". Is it not sometimes possible to have a cow that 

 you cannot dry up ? 



Professor Cook. Yes. Do not ask that animal to freshen 

 every twelve months. Just carry her period of service over 

 from one to six months, and nature will restore that animal, 

 dry up her milk-giving organs, and she will have a chance to 

 go dry for a month or two. It means the salvation of many a 

 highly organized, highly bred dairy cow. If you want con- 

 tinuity of milk, do not give full feed under a month. A cow 

 should give her full flow for six or eight months. Of course 

 after you have educated your cow to come in in the spring and 

 go out to pasture and give a lot of milk for a month, and then 

 gradually dry off until you can milk six in one pail, simply 

 because they have nothing to eat, they will not do that after a 

 while; but if normal, they should give a full flow for six 

 months. 



I want to thank the audience for its very kind attention. 



