652 



SUCCESSFUL FARMING 



stall. For several days previous to calving she should be fed a bulky 

 ration and one that is laxative. She should not be given heavy grains. A 

 mash of ground oats and bran is good. For two or three days before calving 

 time she should be given slightly warmed water. Do not give cold water. 

 After two or three days the cow can gradually be put on the regular grain 

 and roughage feed, but the feeding should not be too heavy to start with. 

 Rest for Dairy Cows. — It is desirable to give a cow at least six weeks 

 of rest each year. Most cows dry off before this time, but occasionally 

 persistent milkers give a considerable supply up to the time of their next 

 calving. When this is allowed, it is at the sacrifice of the milk in the next 



A Good Cow Stable. 1 



Convenience in arrangement, ease of cleaning, plenty of light and good ventilation are 

 essential to the health of cows and the production of clean, pure milk. 



lactation period, and also /sometimes at the sacrifice of the calf. It is some- 

 times difficult to dry off a cow, but usually by cutting down the grain and 

 giving straw or timothy hay she can be reduced to a sufficient amount to be 

 safe to stop milking her. It is sometimes desirable to milk once a day for a 

 while and then stop altogether. It is not safe to stop milking her if she is 

 giving too much, although cows producing as much as six to eight quarts 

 have been dried off without injuring them. 



Care of Cows when Dry. — A cow should be well taken care of when 

 dry, for she is then preparing for her next milking period, besides growing 

 the calf. Nearly all of the development of the calf takes place during the 

 last few weeks. She should be given succulent and laxative feeds and should, 

 be well fed. 



1 Courtesy of the Department of Dairy Husbandry, Pennsylvania State College. 



