840 VETEEINAEY HYGIENE 



In this dietary the hay is in large amounts ; the dry cows get 

 nothing but oat straw and turnips, as follows : 



p.m. 



In a Northumberland dairy the following forms the daily ration : 

 Barley and maize meal ... ... 6 or 7 lbs. 



Hay ... ... ... ... 21 lbs. 



Turnips ... ... ... ... 42 „ 



In pure bred herds there is great variation in the method 

 of feeding, some doing the cows most liberally, others 

 sparingly. The overfeeding of breeding stock is a thing to 

 be avoided, as it interferes with conception. 



As a preventive against parturient apoplexy dairy stock 

 should be kept somewhat low a month before calving, and 

 a purgative administered. This should be particularly 

 observed in the case of the third calf, which experience 

 shows to be the most fatal. Thornton tells us in Jersey 

 exercise before and after calving is regarded as an important 

 preventive. Old village people unable to work earn a few 

 shillings weekly by leading out cows to walk. Jersey cattle, 

 he says, were immune to Milk Fever until a more forcing 

 system of feeding was adopted. Boots are seldom given to 

 the cows before calving, the animals are kept on dry food 

 with a weekly dose of salts and sulphur.* 



We are informed that many Jersey cattle which are not 

 overfed, suffer from parturient apoplexy. 



Feeding for the Butcher.f 



When cattle are fed in yards or courts, care should be 

 taken not to overcrowd, for apart from the hygienic disad- 



* 'Jersey Cattle and their Management': Mr. Thornton^ Journal 

 of the Boyal Agricultural Society, vol. xvii., 1881. 

 t See also pp. 121, 128. 



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