172 DAIRY HERD MANAGEMENT 



nervous and too often unaccustomed to being handled. Quiet 

 self-control on the part of the milker for a few days will usually 

 suifice to convince the young mother that she is among friends 

 with no reason to fight. 



In case flies, barb-wire scratch, or other cause has made bad 

 sores upon the cow's teats, greatest comfort in milking is found 

 by first moistening the skin with warm water or milk. A good 

 fly-repelling salve should be used after milking to heal the 

 wounds. In case it is necessary to tie the animal's legS( this 

 should be done by tying them together with a soft rope, put on 

 in " figure eight," above the hocks. This will prevent her 

 doing damage and without subjecting her to the strain and excite- 

 ment which would follow strapping a foot back. 



It cannot be too strongly emphasized that the cow is a docile 

 creature, fully willing to be friends with her keeper, and will not 

 kick without cause. 



Hard milkers are frequently caused by neglect of the teat 

 in permitting it to become too dry and harsh. This may be 

 overcome by the use of vaseline, which should be thoroughly 

 rubbed into the skin before milking. Slow and weak-handed 

 milking also encourages hard milking. Thus when neglect and 

 weak-handed milking have developed a thoroughly hard milker 

 she may often be brought back into normal condition by the 

 application of oil and strong hands. 



Leaking teats are occasionally a great annoyance, since they 

 not only permit the waste of a considerable amount of the milk 

 so preciously formed, but so saturate the floor beneath the animal 

 that the stall becomes sour. This in turn not only produces a 

 bad odor in the bam, but infects the animal as she lies in her 

 place and increases the likelihood of milk being produced which 

 will sour abnormally soon. Occasionally such leaks may be 

 prevented by coating the tip of the teat with a little collodion 

 immediately following milking. Alum nibbed on the moist 

 end of the teat immediately following milking may aid somewhat. 



Name the Cows. — Every cow in the bam should be given a 

 name and be called by that name sufiiciently often and clearly 

 to enable her to learn it. It gives individuality to the animals 



