THE CAEE OF THE MILKING HEED 93 



to relieve the intolerable itching and sometimes 

 may hasten the death of unthrifty and poorly fed 

 calves. Any number of powders, ointments and 

 washes are recommended as remedies, and most 

 of them are efficient if used persistently. 



Another factor of comfort is the water supply. 

 It must be confessed that cattle are in no way fas- 

 tidious as to their drinking place and often seem 

 quite as well pleased with a green and stagnant 

 pool as with a running brook or clear spring. 

 However, a good water supply in winter is of the 

 utmost importance. If the supply is a trough in 

 the barnyard, it should be warmed enough to keep 

 it free from ice. There are many inexpensive types 

 of water-tank heaters to choose from. It will, how- 

 ever, be a sound investment and not an extrava- 

 gance to provide a system of automatic individual 

 drinking buckets for the stable. A cow will get 

 along by drinking a great quantity of water (often 

 from 70 to 100 pounds a day when on dry feed) 

 once or twice a day, but when forced to do this she 

 is doubtless thirsty much of the time, while if she 

 has it available she will take a sip or a few swal- 

 lows at very frequent intervals. MUk is about 87 

 per cent water, and there is no other constituent 

 that we can provide so cheaply. However, both 

 statute law and ethics decree that it can be added 

 only through the cow. 



Many volumes have been written concerning the 

 feeding of animals and the current literature of 



