220 THE MANAGEMENT AND FEEDING OF CATTLE 



the latter will suffer much more than the former from 

 such exposure. 



The water supply for cows whose calves graze with 

 them should be furnished in the pastures rather than 

 elsewhere, or undue travel will be called for on the part 

 of the cattle in securing water. When the calves are 

 confined, it may be furnished in the pastures or at the 

 steading or in both places. 



Management relating to breeding. — It should be the 

 aim to have cows breed once a year, and, when it can 

 be accomplished, approximately at the same season. To 

 breed them more frequently is an undue strain on the 

 vigor, and less frequently means added expense in pro- 

 portion to the return from the cows. This would mean 

 that they would be served about three months subse- 

 quent to the birth of the calf. Sometimes, however, they 

 do not come in heat within that time, and when they do 

 not the aim referred to cannot be realized. 



AVhen the males do not run at large with the herd, 

 the time of mating is more perfectly controlled. "When 

 the males run with the females, in some instances the 

 latter would become pregnant at too early a period, in 

 manv instances the time of mating would not be known 

 and harm would result to the male from unnecessary 

 service. AA'hen the calves run with the dam, the herd 

 should be visited daily to ascertain if any of the females 

 are in heat, and, of course, for other reasons. \\'hen 

 found thus, they should be removed until the period of 

 heat is past, whether service is given or not. When the 

 calves are confined, the matter of ser\'ice is much simpli- 

 fied, as it may then be ascertained, when the cows come 

 from the pastures, which are in heat, and the male is at 

 hand to be used in service. 



When cows that nurse their calves do not take 

 service within the time limit mentioned, it may be pos- 

 sible to hasten the breeding impulse by feeding such 

 succulent and nourishing foods as will stimulate the 



