2SO CARE OF DAIRY CATTLE 



Milk Fever. — Milk fever affects the best cared for and 

 apparently the healthiest cows in the herd. It usually 

 appears in the early period of lactation. The cow falls to 

 the ground, holding her head around to one side. Her 

 throat seems paralyzed, and she cannot swallow. The dis- 

 ease is caused by an excess of nutrition in the udder, brought 

 on by overfeeding and lack of exercise. The cow should be 

 given neither food nor medicine. 



The treatment consists of inflating the udder with air, 

 either by using a regular milk fever outfit, with which every 

 farm should be equipped, or by inserting a sterilized milking 

 tube into the udder and pumping in air with a sterilized 

 bicycle pump. After the udder is inflated tape may be 

 wound around the teats if necessary to keep the air from 

 escaping. If the air is absorbed in four or five hours and 

 relief has not come to the cow, the inflation should be 

 repeated. Usually the cow recovers quickly after the first 

 treatment. 



EXERCISES 



1. What special precautions need be taken in the manage- 

 ment of the dairy cow? ' , 



2. How do the cow and the steer compare in the ability to 

 convert grain and hay into human food ? Give figures to prove 

 your answer. 



3. Why is cleanliness of such great importance in the manage- 

 ment of the dairy herd? 



4. Which needs the narrower ration, the heavy or the light 

 milker? Why? 



HOME PROJECT 



Raise a calf from birth to six months of age by the most 

 approved methods, keeping accurate records. 



