HERD MANAGEMENT. 



177 



or January will allow the cows to rest during the hottest and most trying 

 months, when they give the smallest profits, and make them most produc- 

 tive when prices are highest. 



"DRYING OFF" cows. The cow should "go dry" a month to six weeks 

 before she is expected to oalve. Some cows are such persistent milkers 

 that it is impossible to dry them off; but such cases are rare, and can usually 

 be prevented if the young cow has the right treatment after her first calf. 

 If she does not show a strong inclination to go dry when within two months 

 of the time she is expected to drop a calf, her feed should be made as light 





NANCY 465 TYPICAL BROWN SWISS COW. 



Owned by B. M. Barton, Hinsdale, 111. First prize cow in Brown Swiss Class at Minnesota, Wis- 

 consin and Illinois state fairs in 1897, at Trans-Mississippi Exposition, Omaha, and Illinois 

 and Wisconsin state fairs in 1898, at Minnesota and Wisconsin state fairs in 1899, and at 

 Illinois state fair in 1901. Since this date Nancy dropped triplet calves. 8he has a twelve- 

 month's record of 9,925 pounds milk and 552 pounds butter. Nancy was dropped March 15, 1887; 

 her weight is 1,400 pounds. 



as will keep her in fair flesh, she should be given little or no grain feed, and 

 the milking should be done less thoroughly. Occasionally a cow will be found 

 which will persist in giving milk through the entire gestation period, and 

 in such cases the only thing to be done during the last month is to milk 

 her sufficiently to prevent the udder from becoming caked or inflamed. 

 Any milking during that month beyond what is absolutely necessary for 

 the health of the cow causes a strain on the vitality of the calf, is encouraging 



