266 COW AND CALF CLEANING MILKING. 



a week sooner. (Dec. 29 Betty Cow to the Wyford 

 bull to calve Oct. 5. a bull calf Oct. 13288 days 

 or 41 weeks 1 day. Cattle Book 1790.) The 

 cow's desire for the bull, every three weeks of the 

 season, should be particularly attended to, so that her 

 milk may be renewed. These animals are extremely 

 liable to abortion, and should be kept from alarm, as 

 much as possible, and out of the way of carrion and 

 ill scents. They are ladies as subject to hysteric pas- 

 sion as their betters. They should not, particularly, 

 be driven and harassed about by rude and heedless 

 boys or girls. 



The cow's time having been regularly noted down, 

 it is better to watch and let her bring forth under 

 shelter, in a roomy place, but absolutely necessary in 

 the winter. She should never be tied up, when near 

 calving, as it might occasion her to lose the calf, by 

 being smothered, or otherwise. Give the cow WARM 

 water, and a warm mash or two, with some sweet hay. 

 The CLEANING or after-burden should almost imme- 

 diately follow the calf, and should be forthwith re- 

 moved. It may be retained from cold caught, in 

 which case the cow must be kept warm, and fed 

 as above, since she will be entirely ruined should it 

 not come away. The calf should be permitted to 

 suck the first milk or beastings, until the flow be 

 abated, and no danger remain of inflammation. If 

 the calf be weak, it should be held up to the teat. 

 Some young cows have the udder greatly distended 

 and inflamed two or three days previous to calving, 

 and may be relieved by part of the milk being daily 

 drawn away. 



