60 THE COW IN HEALTH AND DISEASE 



day the required amount of roughage were fed 

 Cows that have been on a fixed ration for 

 some time should not have their ration changed 

 suddenly. Such a change should be worked out 

 gradually, by adding a little of the feed to which 

 it is desired to make the change to the feed that 

 is being used, and by decreasing the latter a 

 little at each feeding. The digestive organs be- 

 come accustomed to the work required to digest 

 a certain feed after it has been fed for some time. 

 The glands also become accustomed to secret- 

 ing the amount of digestive secretions that are 

 necessary to carry on digestion of the existing 

 ration. Thus any radical and sudden change in 

 feeds given does not allow the various organs 

 time to regulate their functions to the sudden 

 change, and so digestive disturbances and some- 

 times a decided loss of weight result. Cows have 

 been known to lose as much as 35 to 100 pounds 

 from a sudden and radical change in the ration. 

 In cold weather, when it is possible, the drink- 

 ing water should be heated to about 50 degrees. 

 When given very cold it sometimes produces 

 colic. Cows should be watered often and the 

 water should always be pure and clean and not 

 too cold. 



Salivation or Slobbering. 



Salivation or slobbering is a local condition and 

 not a symptom of any such diseases as foot-and- 

 mouth disease or rabies. Such symptoms may be 

 caused by foreign substances, such as nails and 



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