160 DAIRY HERD MANAGEMENT 



class cows one danger in milking before the calf is bom is the 

 likelihood of bringing on milk fever. 



Care at Calving. — The calving period is a critical one in 

 the cow's life. Our domesticated animals are very liable indeed 

 to produce young so large as to require assistance in delivery 

 and other calves of normal size occasionally become misplaced 

 and demand attention to prevent suffocation. Cows in pasture 

 still follow their wild instincts to hide in a remote comer, to 

 calve in secrecy, and even to hide the young in the tall grass or 

 brush. Cows freshening in the early winter are, therefore, much 

 more easily cared for at this time. When nearly due to freshen 

 the cow should be put in a box stall sufficiently large to allow 

 free movement and turning without danger. Abundance of 

 water and a little coarse succulent feed should be supplied 

 (Fig. 58). Attention should be given that her bowels are 

 moderately loose. The herdsman should be near at hand at 

 the moment of calving to give assistance if needed. A few 

 minutes spent at the critical moment may save the life of a 

 valuable calf and occasionally the cow's as well. 



Care After Calving. — ■ The strain upon the cow's system due 

 to calving brings on some fever and nervousness. She should 

 be given free access to water which is not too cold. Xo feed 

 need be given for some hours. If both cow and calf are normal 

 they may be left alone, she to clean and to lick the calf off, and 

 he to learn the use of his legs. The cow is usually permitted to 

 suckle the calf once, though this is not necessaiy. Cows have 

 strong attachment for their calves only after having lived with 

 them for a few days. Consequently, the removal of the calf at 

 once, or when but a few hours old, causes no particular bereave- 

 m.ent on the part of the cow. The calf is wholly forgotten in a 

 day. The calf should be removed from the sight and hearing of 

 the dam while she is absent from the stall. Her return is. the 

 psychological moment for the dairyman. The man who later 

 is to milk her should be on hand to caress, to speak kindly and 

 to feed a moderate mess of steamed oats or bran mash. Wliile 

 she is consuming this delicacy the herdsman should groom her 



