190 rUE MANAGEMENT AND FEEDING OF CATTLE 



harmful. But the plan which so manages the cow that 

 such an aggregation of milk will not be present at too 

 earl}' a period, is doubtless preferable. Milk thus re- 

 moved before parturition brings with it some hazard 

 to the new-born calf, because of the modified character 

 of the milk caused by such removal. 



Some dairymen have adopted the plan of adminis- 

 tering a mild purgative to the cow within, say, a day or 

 two of the time of parturition. The skilled dairyman 

 can usualh' judge of the near approach of the time of 

 calving with sufficient accuracy to properly adjust the 

 time for giving the purgative. The only harm result- 

 ing from giving it earlier is in its being less effective in 

 accomplishing the ends for which it is given. In some 

 instances the purgative is given within a few hours sub- 

 sequent to parturition and in other instances both before 

 and after. The object is to make sure that the bowels at 

 such a time are not in a constipated condition and to 

 lessen the activity of the secretions. Epsom salts are 

 the purgative most commonly used. They are given as 

 a drench and the dose is from three-quarters of a pound 

 to a pound. There is some difference of opinion as to 

 the efficacy of such treatment, but where regularly 

 practiced milk fever very seldom occurs. This fact is 

 sustained by much evidence, though, as yet, largely 

 unwritten. 



Opinion is somewhat divided as to whether all the 

 milk should be removed from the udder after the calf 

 has taken its first meal. The common practice is to re- 

 move all the milk, but some claim that only a part should 

 be removed where the object is to prevent excessive milk 

 secretion. It is sometimes argued that there is less 

 flanger from milk fever, when nature's plan is followed 

 of removing only a part of the milk at a time, for a day or 

 two at the first. W^hile this point is being investigated, 

 anrl pending a decision, it would seem correct to say 

 that the feeding before parturition should be so guarded 



