IX BALLINDALLOCH HERD. 385 



and regards the process as useful to the cow herself, as a 

 medicinal corrective. He brings up the calves upon their 

 dams ; but if the cows are heavy milkers, he milks them 

 dry now and again, until the calf is able to do so itself. 

 The first fortnight is a most critical time with calves, and 

 Mr Auld states that when he sees any sign of dulness or 

 inactivity in their system, he gives them a table- spoonful 

 of treacle dissolved in warm water. He finds that the 

 calves are fond of this, and that it operates beneficially. He 

 states that his late uncle, Mr M'Combie of Tillyfour, was 

 always most careful to have his calves muzzled during 

 the first fortnight, so .as to prevent them attempting to 

 eat straw. As soon as they are old enough to be able to 

 take them, they should be taught to eat cake and turnips, 

 and should be allowed plenty of exercise. Mr Auld does 

 not approve of cows being mated sooner than six weeks 

 after calving. Weaning usually takes place about the 

 end of the grass season, and after that has been done, the 

 " cording " of the calves (putting setons into their dew- 

 laps) is carefully attended to. Young bulls and young- 

 heifers, he thinks, should be liberally fed, and cows kept 

 in moderate condition. 



In Sir George Macpherson Grant's herd at Ballindal- 

 loch, an admirable system of management is pursued. 

 The calving season is made up of December and three 

 following months, but it often happens that cows fall 

 behind. As a rule, the calves are allowed to suckle their 

 dams for about six months. When housed, most of the 

 cows are kept in loose-boxes, each cow having a box to 

 herself and her calf. At weaning, calves are very care- 

 fully attended to. They are generally trained to eat 

 linseed-cake before being weaned, and every possible 

 effort is made to retain the calf-flesh, and not allow them 

 to fall off after losing the milk of their dams. When 

 the cold autumn evenings commence, care is taken to 

 have all the cattle, at any rate all the young cattle, 



2B 



