2IO THE MANAGEMENT AND FEEDING OF CATTLE 



hay and silage. Good oat or pea straw may form a 

 considerable proportion of the ration should the cows 

 be lean, but it would be more profitable to feed the cows 

 so as to bring them into good flesh than to allow them 

 to produce progeny while yet in low flesh. Under semi- 

 range or range conditions, alfalfa will be found a very 

 suitable winter food, since it does not rend to produce 

 constipation as some other fodders do. 



In answer to the question as to why so long a 

 period of rest is given to such cows, it may be said, (i) 

 that when the milk supply falls off materially both cows 

 and calves will do better than when nursing is long con- 

 tinued, the former because they are relieved from the 

 worry which large calves often produce in the frequency 

 with which they take milk, and the latter because of the 

 greater eagerness with which they consume other food. 

 (2) The cows also call for less care, although this may 

 probably be offset by the greater care called for by the 

 calves. 



When more than one calf is reared on the dam, 

 and especially when a calf is put upon the dam after the 

 first calf or pair of calves suckled by her simultaneously 

 are weaned Csee page 7), of course it is necessarv to 

 prolong the milk period. In such instances it may be 

 prolonged even to nine months. Such prolongation of 

 the milk-giving is in no way harmful, but it is rather 

 helpful to regular breeding in the cow. 



Care at the time of parturition. — Usually it is not 

 necessary to make any difference in the food given to 

 this class of cows before parturition from that which 

 has formed the diet during the weeks and, in some in- 

 stances, the months preceding. But the digestion should 

 be carefully noted, and if any evidences of constipation 

 are present, food which will correct the condition should 

 be given. 



'V\'ith such cows the fear of milk fever is not usually 



