180 [Assembly 



ON SPAYING OF COWS. 



Translated by Hugh H. Bowne, from the French, for the Essex County Institute. 



Trenton, February 2, 1848. 

 J. W. Hays: 



Dear Sir — Amongst the books presented to the State of New- 

 Jersey by M. Vattemare, is a small pamphlet by a French veterinary 

 surgeon, on the " castration,'^ or, as it is commonly called in this 

 country, the "spaying" of cows, which I found interesting, and I 

 thought perhaps it would interest you, as well as some of the mem- 

 bers of the Essex County Institute: I therefore translate a portion 

 of the pamphlet, which you will find below. My knowledge of the 

 French language is limited, and I have not a dictionary to assist 

 me, and T may not be correct in my rendering. 



The effect of the castration upon the cow, seems to be that it 

 produces a more abundant secretion of milk, which acquires at the 

 same time a greater richness, and results in the following advantages 

 to the proprietor, viz: 



1st. Increase of one-third in quantity of milk: 



2d. Certainty of having more constantly the same quantity: 



3d. The cow is not exposed to the accidents which often occur 



when she is in season, when the cows leap upon one another, and 



when they may be mounted by too heavy bulls: 



4th. As they will not generate, all the accidents of gestation and 



calving are of course avoided: 



5th. Greater disposition to fatten, when their milk fails, or the 



owner wishes to part with them. 



This is the experience of one man, and another writes thus: 



piT Of twenty-seven cows, aged from 6 to 15 years, which we have 

 castrated, we have obtained the following results: 



1st. Increase of milk in cows of 6 or 8 years: 

 2d. Constant supply in those above that age: 



