CHAPTER VII. 



THE BULL; AND ON CALVING, 



Previously to entering upon the subject of pregnant 

 cows, a few observations on the bull may prove of great 

 advantage. 



There is a notion very prevalent that frequent bulling 

 of the cow will ensure a calf; experience has proved 

 this to be erroneous. Once is quite sufficient; but 

 where the bull is of a larger kind than the cow, the 

 latter should have the advantage of rising ground. On 

 returning home the cow should be milked and tied up 

 till quiet. Cattle taken to the bull are less subject to 

 barrenness than those running with the bulL 



For milking cows it is always advisable to have a bull 

 with two or three years' advantage of age, as the stock 

 is not then produced too large, which would probably 

 injure the womb and produce barrenness. The heifer 

 should not be taken to the bull younger than from 

 eighteen to twenty-one months ; and after calving, six 

 weeks should elapse before the cow is bulled. 



When the cow is heavy in calf — that is, when within 

 about three months of the time of calving — consider- 

 able judgment is required as to her condition. At this 



time she should have plenty of exercise, should walk a 



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