l86 THE MANAGEMENT AND FEEDING OF CATTLE 



COWS of the dual type which suckle their calves will not 

 be possessed of high milk-producing qualities. The same 

 will be true of these cows when alternated by hand-milk- 

 ing some seasons and suckling their calves other sea- 

 sons. So-called milking Shorthorns will not produce 

 milk abundantly that have suckled their own calves even 

 for a limited number of generations. The relation be- 

 tween hand-milking and the most generous milk-giving 

 is inseparable. This makes it possible, should it be so 

 desired, to improve milk-giving qualities in cows that 

 ordinarily suckle their calves by milking them by hand 

 during the first lactation period, should such a plan be 

 deemed desirable. 



When calves are to be vealed they should not be 

 allowed to suck their dams, if the latter are to be hand- 

 milked subsequently. It is, of course, labor-saving to 

 allow them to take their food thus, as compared with 

 milking by hand and feeding the calf from the pail. 

 Such feeding is somewhat less favorable to growth and 

 fattening, but what is lost in that way, it is believed, will 

 be much less than the loss that would result through 

 the adverse influence on milk production in the dam, from 

 allowing the calf to take its own food directly from her. 

 Cows have power, to some extent, to retain their milk, 

 and this power is sometimes exercised when the excess 

 of milk is being taken from an udder from which a calf 

 has already taken its meal. Any tendency to retain 

 milk thus is prejudicial to milk-giving in proportion 

 as it exists. It would possibly be claiming too much to 

 say that influence thus exerted would, in all instances, be 

 prejudicial to milk-giving. Much depends on the tem- 

 perament of the dam, but ordinarily the general results 

 would be against ma.ximum yields. 



Management during the period of rest. — With 

 reference to the duration of the interval between the 

 respective periods of lactation, there is considerable dif- 

 ference in the practice of dairymen. Some aim to have 



