DAIRY HERD MANAGEMENT 655 



open shed have keener appetites and consume more roughage than those 

 kept in stables. 



"2. There was sufficient protein consumed when either Van Norman's 

 or Eckles' Standard was used to account for the yield of milk in addition 

 to maintenance. 



"3. Figured on Eckles' Standard, there was a slight excess of energy 

 consumed above maintenance and milk production the first two years, 

 and a small deficiency the last year. When computed on Van Norman's 

 Standard, there was a deficiency in energy consumed for maintenance 

 and milk production, except for one group the second year. 



"4. The milk yield of the outside group decreased more rapidly each 

 winter than that of the inside group. 



"5. Sudden drops in atmospheric temperature caused corresponding 

 decreases in milk yield for both groups, the outside group having a slightly 

 greater decrease. 



"6. More bedding was required outside, but less labor was necessary 

 to keep the animals clean. 



"7. Both groups finished each winter's trial in good health with the 

 exception of one that reacted to the tuberculin test in April, 1914. She 

 had shown no reaction in two previous tests. The hair of the animals 

 kept outside was longer and coarser the first two winters. The third 

 winter this was noticeable in only one ainmal." 



Flies. — In the management of a milking herd, the problem of flies 

 is a difficult one. Not only are they annoying to the cow and the milker, 

 but they also carry disease. They should be reduced to as small a number 

 as possible. It is believed that they do not travel a great distance, so that 

 a farmer may have them fairly well under his control. Manure should 

 not be allowed to accumulate, and if it does, it should be treated with 

 some spray or disinfectant that will kill the flies. There are a number of 

 sprays on the market that can be used for killing flies in the barn. Some 

 have found traps to be practical. 



Marking the Cow. — For the purpose of identification, dairy animals 

 should be marked. Some have a system of clipping the ears with certain 

 notches to represent the various figures and thus of keeping records. 

 This, however, is not very satisfactory. An ordinary hog ring with a 

 metal or composition tag fastened to it makes a satisfactory marker. 

 Occasionally these are torn out, but if they are properly put in and the 

 tag is small and round, they will stay a long time. The tattoo is also 

 being used successfully when good tattoo material is used. 



Dehorning. — In the general milking herd all cows should be dehorned. 

 There is more or less pain connected with the operation, but it does not, 

 in the estimation of the writer, compare with the pain due to the cows 

 being gored day after day. It prevents the possibility also of one animal 

 that may be "boss" depriving others of their rightful share of food and 

 water. The dehorning, however, should not be done until the animal has 



