FIFTIETH ANNUAL CONVENTION 131 



UDDER DISEASES OF DAIRY COWS. 

 CARE AND MANAGEMENT OF DAIRY BULLS. 



Two Recent Bulletins from United States Department of 



Agriculture. 



A fundamental axiom of horse husbandry is well ex- 

 pressed in the statement "A horse is no better than his four 

 xeet." Translated into terms of dairy husbandry, it would 

 sound much like this: "A dairy cow is no beetter than her 

 udder." 



Implied or expressed, this rule largely governs the de- 

 sirability of animals considered for a dairy herd, or the fit- 

 ness of any animal to remain in the herd. The attention 

 of the stock judge is focused on the udder conformation as 

 a guide to a cow's excellence, and the dairyman ultimately 

 rates her value to him according to the evidence of the milk 

 sheets and the butterfat test. 



The dairy cow's udder is an abnormally developed 

 gland, the result of centuries of careful selective breeding 

 It is complex in its physiology. Functioning as it does, un- 

 der high tension, for maximum milk production during most 

 of the adult life of the cow, this marvelous structure is sub- 

 jected to a very great physical strain, with small oppor- 

 tunity for rest or repair. The extra tax on the udder which 

 is involved in the birth of calves and shortly thereafter 

 often counterbalances the rest allowed between milking 

 periods. 



The great development of this organ, as well as its 

 complexity, are factors which render most difficult the 

 treatment of abnormal conditions of the udder of the dairy 

 cow. All things considered, it is usually advisable, when a 

 disease or injury is observed, to undertake treatment only 

 under the advice of a qualified veterinarian. 



Prevention of Diseases and Injuries. 



Many of the udder conditions which occasion pain and 

 peril to the dairy cow are avoidable. Deviation from regu- 



