CAiVING. 259 



dairymen and farmers are familiar with, and upon which 

 we will say comparatively little. Before we do this, how- 

 ever, a short description of tlie symptoms, by wliich it is 

 known when a cow is in calf, will be given. 



Symptoms. The first and most important symptoms of 

 a cow being with calf, is the absence of pestromania or 

 bulling. This, however, is not altogether relied upon in 

 some cows, for there are cases in which a pregnant cow 

 will receive the bull up to the time of calving. The next, 

 and probably the more sure sign of a cow being with calf, 

 is the increased size of the belly. The hand placed firmly 

 against the flank or portion, where there are no ribs; a 

 hard, firm body will be felt, which is the calf As time 

 passes along, the movements of the calf in the womb can 

 occasionally be seen. Within a few weeks of calving, the 

 external organs of generation — labia pudendi — increase in 

 size, and discharge a thick mucus. The udder becomes 

 swollen, hot, and fiiU of the first milk — colostrum — ^which 

 is sure indication that the time for calving is near at hand. 

 This is accompanied by a relaxation of the ligaments of the 

 pelvis, or, as the dairymen say, " she is down in her bones." 



Symptoms of Immediate Delivery. Great restlessness 

 and uneasiness, shown by lying down and rising up, and 

 increasing in severity, until she has been delivered of a 

 calf. From the time of conception, till natural parturition 

 or calving, it is about forty weeks, or two hundred and 

 eighty days. 



There are, however, opinions at variance with these 

 dates, founded upon the sex of the calf. If a male, it 

 is carried longer than if of the opposite sex. These opin- 

 ions form ground for debate, therefore we will drop 

 theorizing. 



Natueal CALVrBTG. — This resembles the fruit whes 



