t 



the vulva, it is not pregnant. Bellowing or absence of 

 bellowing, jumping or walking quietly, and the tri-weekly 

 oestrual sign, are other indications. 



984. The following food produces the effect of exciting 

 the desire of the cow for the bull : a daily ration of Juar fodder 

 with 2 to 4 Ibs. of boiled cotton seed. This food given for 3 

 or 4 weeks produces the effect. A heifer which refuses to take 

 the bull may be converted into a Kamdhenu (or virgin milker) 

 if she is milked regularly. At first she will yield very little 

 milk, but if the milking is persisted in, she gives considerable 

 quantities, /. e. t 2 to 3 seers a day, and the milking can be 

 done at any time of the day. 



985. Cows in calf which have got dry are usually given no 

 special food but simply left to graze and drink what water they 

 can get. But some nourishing food and plenty of good drink- 

 ing water should always be provided for cows in calf, though 

 fattening a cow in calf is highly undesirable. Half a seer 

 of oil-cake or cotton-seed mixed up with a basketful of bhusa 

 or fodder grass or leaves (e. g. baer leaves) should be given 

 as sani every night, in addition to grazing. A few days be- 

 fore delivery, they should be given \ a seer of boiled barley 

 mixed with i pow of gur and .V a. flow of mustard or linseed 

 oil and $ a chittack of common salt every day. This mixture 

 is a mild laxative but strengthening food and it is also 

 beneficial in helping on the flow of milk. After delivery 

 liquid food should be avoided as much as possible for 4 or 5 

 days and the cow kept on such dry food as wheat-straw, wheat- 

 bran, gur, fenugreek, ginger and oil. After 4 or 5 days the 

 colostrum gives place to the flow of true milk. The colostrum 

 has aperient property and it is useful in relieving the calf 

 of the mceconium or the accumulated faetal dung. After the 

 period of colostrum has passed the cow should get for a 

 month i seer of boiled wheat (or mixed rice and kalai] mixed 

 with i pow of gur and the milk left by the calf which is drawn, 

 besides grazing ad lib. This mixture is very helpful in 



