212 THi: MA^: \Gl:.MI-.XT AND FiillDlNG OF CATTLE 



moderate and increase ,t,Taduall_\- in the meal fed. As for 

 a time the dam will probably g-i\-e considerably more 

 milk than will suffice for the calf, there is not the same 

 reason for stimulating the milk flow at an early period 

 in the lactation as in the case of dairy cows. Such 

 stimulation is, of course, in order as soon as the calf can 

 take all the milk, and no harm can come from such 

 stimulation at an earlier period, if the surplus milk is 

 wanted for other uses. 



Removing the surplus milk. — The calf should, of 

 course, be allowed to take the first milk from the udder 

 and to help itself as frequently thereafter as it may 

 desire. This means, of course, that both dam and calf 

 will have the liberty of a box stall. In the season of pas- 

 ture it will usually be more convenient to confine the 

 cow and calf thus for a few days than to have them in 

 the pasture. 



After the calf has taken its first milk the residue 

 should be drawn from the udder, and subsequently it 

 should be taken twice a day for a time, and later once a 

 day when supplying the needs of the calf has so far re- 

 duced the surplus that more frequent milking is not 

 necessar}-. Such removal of the milk aids in bringing 

 the udder into a normal condition, and in increasing the 

 natural and healthful action of all the functions con- 

 cerned in producing milk. 



But there is another important reason for removing 

 such surplus milk. It has an important bearing on the 

 milk-giving of the cows. If not removed, the surplus 

 becomes speedily reduced to the amount taken by the 

 calf, which means no surplus, and, when thus reduced, 

 subsequent increase cannot easily be made, notwith- 

 standing the increase in the capacity of the calf to take 

 milk. At a later period it can take much more milk and 

 use it with much benefit. However, unless the cow has 

 produced milk far in excess of the needs of the calf 



