134 ILLINOIS STATE DAIRYMEN'S ASSOCIATION 



udders of other cattle. Some herdsmen have used the com 

 mon calf weaner, which is a small, biblike attachment for 

 the nose, or the muzzle basket type of calf weaner, either 

 of which contrivances is so arranged as not to interfere 

 with eating or drinking, but which covers the mouth when 

 the head is slightly elevated. Others have resorted to the 

 use of the spiked halter, which is made by perforating the 

 muzzle strap of an ordinary leather halter at intervals of 

 about 1 inch and passing sharpened wire nails through the 

 holes, from within outward, lastly lining the barbed strap to 

 hold the spikes in place. This method, however, borders 

 on the barbarous and may be attended with danger to the 

 wearer or to other stock in the same pasture. A crib, or 

 rigid collar, is more humane, and may be made by lacing 

 together a number of stout sticks in barrel-stave fashion, 

 and tying them around the animaPs neck, thus preventing 

 her from bending sidewise and yet permitting her to graze. 

 This apparatus is mainly effective for animals that rob their 

 own udders. Another type of apparatus which is effective 

 in preventing a cow from robbing her own udder, consists 

 of a halter, to the chin strap of which a stout stick is at- 

 tached by means of a short chain. The stick is passed be- 

 tween the forelegs and is fastened at the other end by a 

 large metal ring to the lowest point of a girdle fitted com- 

 fortably around the animal's body. 



If mechanical contrivances fail to correct the vice, the 

 culprit may be isolated for a while, or, better still, pastured 

 for a limited /time daily under observation or isolation, im- 

 mediately after milking, and then stanchioned for the rest 

 of the time. After a few weeks of this manner of restraint 

 she should manifest no inclination to return to the habit. 





