388 
The Management of a Shorthorn Herd. 
grazes regularly with the cows. Now of all the subjects con- 
nected with the management of cattle, taking the information 
which I have collected from some of the most experienced 
breeders in every division of the United Kingdom, there is not 
one subject upon which the testimony of the different witnesses 
varies so widely as upon that of the readiness, or otherwise, of 
suckling cows to breed again. Some affirm that they find no 
difficulty whatever ; that their cows suckle the calves, never see 
the bull until his services are required, and yet breed again as 
readily as hand-milked cows whose calves were removed at 
birth. Others have tried the suckling system, and given it up 
because they could not get their cows to breed, nor even to take 
the bull, until the calves were weaned. At Sittyton, where, as 
throughout Aberdeenshire, all cows suckle their offspring, the 
cows generally calve again within twelve months of their pre- 
vious calving. Running constantly with the bull, they come in 
use sooner than they would if separated from him, and are in no 
danger of being missed. One bull, under this system, cannot 
produce so many calves as if he were kept alone and used 
sparingly in the ordinary way ; but the general produce of the 
herd is increased. Attention must be paid to the bull's feet, or 
he may easily become useless after winter confinement. When 
cows turn to the bull frequently, they are not allowed access to 
him for some time. This may become a veterinary question 
rather than one of simple management ; and in each case the 
intelligence of the manager, and the result of his careful observa- 
tion of the animals, must determine whether professional advice 
is necessary. 
When the cow calves, the calf is tied up beside her ; and for 
some time, until it is well able to take all her milk, the cow is 
regularly milked — tlic calf sucking at the same time, so that the cow 
cannot retain her milk. When the calf can manage all the milk, it 
is allowed to go loose about at will, one stall being left for the 
use of cow and calf. The theory is — and I believe it to be per- 
fectly true — that many of the frequent and discouraging losses 
among young calves are caused by the allowance of too much 
milk at a tender age. The calves should be kept hungry, that 
is, never allowed to satisfy themselves, for the first three weeks 
of their lives. Scouring and indigestion, with consequent 
formation of hair- balls in the stomach, arise from too liberal or 
irregular feeding. When the cows go out to grass, the milk 
generally increases, and sometimes it is again necessary to resort 
to hand-milking to take away the surplus. After the calf is 
weaned, the cow is regularly milked three times in the day. 
Indeed at all times care is taken to relieve the cow of all her 
milk. 
