r,ARi.;i':\\'i',ss. so 



BARRENNESS. 



Barrenness, sterility, or failure to breed in cows anfl heifers, is due either to 

 imperfect, unnatural, or diseased genital organs. 



Imperfection of the Genital Organs. 



This is one of the causes '>f harrenness, ami nia\' he due to an undeveloped 

 womb or imperfect ovaries. 



It is usually the case that when a turn heifer and bull calf are born, and the 

 bull proves to Ije fruitful, the heifer is barren, and \ice \ers,[. If thi^ be the case 

 with the heifer, she is not liable to come in heat at all, and is ver\" apt to take on 

 a masculine appearance; UKjre often having the ;ipi)etirance nf a steer than a 

 bull. F^ven after she has arri\ed at breeding age, the breeding organs are unde- 

 veloped and there is no sign of an udder, this being pro(jf of imperfect genital 

 organs. 



An animal thus afflicted can ne\er be made to breed. 



Unnatural Condition of the Organs. 



An unnatural, swollen and inflamed c(jndition of the genital organs may be 

 brought on by retention of the afterbirth, this being allowed to be rct.ained in a 

 dec(jmposing condition until it rots awa\-, leaving the mouth (A the womb irritated, 

 scalded and sore, so that wdien it does close, it heals closed so hrmly that it cannot 

 be opened without mechanical aid in the form of a dilator. 



Diseased Organs. 



The genital organs may become diseased frcmi several causes, chief of which is 

 neglect, in cases of retained afterbirth, the same liecoming decomposed and con- 

 verted into matter, causing a catarrhal condition of the mucuous membrane of the 

 womb and vagina. 



If a cow be served wdiile in this condition, the semen of the bull will be 

 destroyed by this corrosive discharge, thus preventing CDnception. 



Diseased Bull May Cause Barrenness. 



If a healthy cow be bred to a bull infected with germs of abortion, she is \'ery 

 liable to become infected. This infection will set up a catarrhal condition of the 

 womb and vagina, and irritate the mouth and neck of the womb to such an extent 

 as to cause same to become sore, and wdien this sore heals, the scar tissue and 

 cartilage formations are so firm and rigid that they will not open without mechanical 

 aid. 



Tumorous Growth May Cause Barrermess. 



A slow catarrhal condition of the womb oftentimes causes a gristly, sticky, 

 pliable formation of nmcous, called Xeoplasm. This renders conception more or 

 less difficult. The formation of small growths, such as tumors, v.diich are li.able 

 to form on any part of the gendtal organs, but are moi'e apt to be at the mouth or 

 in the neck of the wond], (jften pre\ent conception. 



Barrenness May Be Transmitted. 



A barren cow, afflicted with a catarrhal discharge of the genital organs may 

 be brefl to a perfectly healthy bull: the bull then becoming infected. He in turn 

 may be bred to a perfectly healthy cow, which has never been afflicted with liarren- 

 ness, and she may in this way become infected and rendered barren. 



How To Know It. 



A reasonably healtiiy cov/ or heifer that may be bred once or twice at different 

 periods of heat to a reasijuably healthy bull, and ftdls to get with calf, should be 

 looked upon as barren unless it may be the fault of the bull, wdiieh is x'cry seldom 



