232 DAIRY CATTLE AND MILK PRODUCTION 



be tied in a barn where the platform inclines toward the rear. 

 The average length of pregnancy is 285 days. The males are 

 carried a little longer on the average than the females. 



Should Cow be milked before Calving. It is the practice 

 of some to milk out heavy milkers several times before the 

 birth of the calf, for fear the udder may be injured. It is also 

 claimed by some that this helps to prevent milk fever. Others 

 never milk a cow until the calf is dropped. If milking is begun 

 it must be continued regularly. Milking before calving is ad- 

 visable only with the heaviest milkers, when they are evidently 

 suffering greatly from the distention of the udder. 



Developing Long Milking Period. While persistency in 

 milking is mostly a breed and individual character, it is gener- 

 ally believed it is possible to influence the length of time a cow 

 will give milk each period during her life by the length of the 

 first milking period. For this reason it is best to milk a heifer 

 in her first lactation period as long as she should be milked when 

 mature, even if the milk produced does not justify the time, in 

 order to establish the habit. 



Care of the Cow at Calving Time. If the cow has been dry 

 for six weeks and received sufficient feed so that she is in good 

 condition at calving time, there seldom will any complica- 

 tions arise. If the cow is on pasture, she should be allowed to 

 remain there, but looked after at least twice per day when 

 about to calve. If not on pasture, the cow should be turned 

 loose several days before she is expected to calve in a box stall 

 of sufficient size. Special attention must be given to avoid 

 infecting the navel of the calf and bringing on contagious 

 or white scours (p. 198). As the time of parturition ap- 

 proaches, the udder becomes distended and hard, and filled 

 with the colostrum milk. When the tendons and muscles 



