246 CARE OF DAIRY CATTLE 



carrier is used, it should have direct communication with a 

 covered pit so built as to save the manure. 



Care of the Cow. — The cow is the unit of the herd, and 

 the success of the whole depends upon the care of each unit. 

 During all operations in the handling of dairy cows clean- 

 liness should prevail. The cows should be brushed daily. 

 Their udders should be wiped with a damp cloth 

 previous to milking. It is also good practice to use milk 

 pails with small tops, so that the amount of dust and dirt 

 falling into the pail will be reduced to the minimum. Milk- 

 ers should practice " dry hand " milking, and should change 

 from their dirty field clothes to clean outer garments before 

 beginning to milk. All these precautions not only tend to 

 keep the milk clean, but also help the dair3anan to improve 

 conditions generally. 



The cow should be well cared for at all times, fed liberally, 

 and should receive utmost kindness from the hands of the 

 herdsman. All unnecessary excitement, fright, and injury 

 should be carefully avoided. In commercial dairying it is 

 well to separate the calf from the cow two or three days 

 after birth so that she will not become attached to it. 

 However, if one is raising valuable pure-bred calves, they 

 may be allowed to remain for a week or more if desired. 



If the cow is a heavy milker she should be watched 

 for milk fever. The farm should be provided with an 

 outfit for the treatment of this malady. The most effec- 

 tive method is that of simply inflating the udder with air. 



In the case of young cows, the first milking period deter- 

 mines the future persistency of the cow. The heifer should 

 be milked by a competent milker, and should be kept in 

 milk as long as possible. This will tend to lengthen her 

 future lactation periods. 



