458 
DAIRY FARMING. 
Although in theory it may seem to serve several useful pur- 
poses to permit of the calf sucking its dam for a day or two, 
yet the trouble afterwards is so great in getting the one to 
let down her milk, and the other to drink out of the pail, 
that the good which might be expected to result from doing 
so becomes quite neutralised. The beastings can be quite as 
easily given by hand as by suckling, and are in this way quite 
as effectual in clearing the stomach and intestines, and esta- 
blishing that healthy action so vitally necessary for the very 
existence of the creature so recently come into the world. 
When the calf has never been permitted to suck its mother 
there is not the slightest trouble in getting it to drink out of 
the pail — hunger will make it do so; whereas if it has sucked 
at all, it shows the greatest obstinacy in learning, and cannot 
be got to drink freely until a considerable time has elapsed. 
With the cow herself there is also some trouble, and very 
often positive danger from retention of the milk when she has 
taken kindly to the calf, and her maternal instincts tho- 
roughly aroused. For several days she will scarcely let down 
her milk at all, rendering it almost impossible to milk her 
clean, and, from this reason alone, severe inflammation is 
liable to set in, resulting, not only in a great deal of tempo- 
rary inconvenience, but actual monetary loss. Should the 
swelling become hard, and not yield to repeated and long- 
continued fomentation with hot water, the following mixture 
forms probably as good an ointment as could be used for 
soothing the pain, and reducing the inflammation. Camphor, 
1 oz., rubbed down with a little spirits of wine, and well 
mixed with 1 oz. of mercurial ointment, and i lb. of elder 
ointment. This should be rubbed well in after each milking, 
but clean washed off with warm water before being again 
milked. To the owner of a large stock of cows, the above 
receipt is very valuable, and a few pots should be kept ready 
mixed for use. A number of cows in a herd with blind paps 
is most unsightly; besides being a pecuniary loss by injuring 
the milking qualities, and lessening the value of each animal 
so blemished when parted with ; and moreover it is not cre- 
ditable, and therefore the utmost care should be taken to 
keep down inflammation at the period of calving. If at all 
possible the calf-house should be subdivided, so that each 
little animal can have a separate compartment for itself — an 
arrangement which adds most materially to its comfort and 
progress, and through which much after trouble and many 
losses from death can be avoided. To give the calf a good 
start, and lay the foundation of a good constitution, the milk 
should be given undiluted and warm from the cow for the 
