MANAGEMENT OF DAIRY CATTLE 233 



relax on either side of the rump, leaving a hollow appearance 

 on either side of the tail head, parturition may be expected 

 within 24 hours, or three or four days at the longest. 



The cow should be left strictly alone at time of calving, 

 unless some assistance is evidently necessary. As a rule the 

 calf will be born within half an hour. If the calf is not ex- 

 pelled after an hour or two, an examination should be made. 

 The normal position of the calf at the time of delivery is fore- 

 feet first with the front of the hoofs and knees upward while 

 the nose lies between the knees. If the condition of the calf 

 is normal, the cow may be assisted by pulling on a rope at- 

 tached to the forefeet of the calf. This must be done carefully, 

 and only when the cow strains. If the position of the calf is 

 abnormal, the services of a qualified veterinarian should be 

 secured if possible, unless the person in charge has had con- 

 siderable experience. No attempt will be made here to de- 

 scribe abnormal presentations of the calf and how they are to 

 be handled. The reader is referred to veterinary textbooks, 

 and to the book entitled " Diseases of Cattle," issued by the 

 U. S. Department of Agriculture, for full details on this 

 subject. 



The cow is especially subject to retention of the afterbirth, 

 and special attention must always be given that it comes 

 away. When the cow is in good condition, the afterbirth is 

 usually expelled within a few hours after the calf, often al- 

 most immediately. Cows far along in years or in low condi- 

 tion of health are especially subject to this trouble. The 

 giving of cold water soon after calving may cause it to be re- 

 tained. All water given within the first 24 hours should be 

 warmed, and cold feed should also be avoided. The after- 

 birth when expelled should be removed, to prevent the cow 



