Care of Cows.

Clutha Leader, Volume I, Issue 7, 20 August 1874, Page 1 (Supplement)

Care of Cows.

I have been considerably amused and somewhat the manner in which " A Veterinarian " treats my re • marks in a late Tribune, He admits about all I contended-for, and then goes on to say that he " never knew any harm to result from the birth of a calf during , the night, while the cow was tied up. " That remark made ine shudder, for to keep a poor creature tied upin stanchions, where she can hardly move while passing through the most terrible ordeal to which nature subjects her children, is to mc great inhumanity. Comments by Prof. L B. Arnold. The remark of S. A. H. are doubtless prompted by a humanitarian feeling. His sensitive nerves would very likely be "shocked " by the practice mentioned in the correspondence above alluded to though the result does not show that there is anything bad or really objection able in it. We cannot always j adge of what would be most desirable or proper in the taeatment of animals by considering , what would be so for the human j and different glasses of animals differ so much in their peculiarities and ' instincts that what would be appropriate for one might be very inappropriate for another. Reecher's dog was delighted in barking at a hole in the wall when he knew the squirrel had gone. It was a peculiarity in his dog-nature, and would have been sport for nothing else. The cow finds a delicious morsel in what would be most loathsome and disgusting to other creatures. There is no parallel for her peculiar appetite displayed upon the birth of her young. A horse as well as a cow can enjoy life and prosper, tied by the head, a condition which would prove distressing and fatal to many other animals. In deciding upon the treatment of animals we must consider " the nature of the beast." It is not a natural position for the cow at the time of labour to be confined by tying by the head, or by being shut in a pen ; nor i 3 it a natural position at any time ; but the fact that from habit and her peculiar nature she submits patiently to being tied, confinement during labor is not so much of a barbarism, nor so disagreeable to her as at first thought might appear. If the supposed inhumanity was the case, it would soon show itself in the condition and products of the cow so treated. It is not the general practice to confine cows at such a time, nor would I advise doing so, but there.are hundreds of farmers who practice it, and not only fail to see any unfavourable effects from it, but many think they get along better in stanchions then when loose. A special stable is prepared with suitable bedding, and the l cow which is expected to come in is fastened in it. As, soon as delivery is effected she is let loose to care for her calf. If delivery by occuring in the night is not at once discovered she is ; unfastened as soon as it is, and allowed the liberty of the stable to treat her calf as she pleases. A hurried delivery may be the cause of a retention of the after-birth. This is not uncommon where cows are turned loose in a stable. When labour pains begin to be felt they often waste a great deal of strength in -premature efforts, and in repeatedly lyinj* down and getting up. This hurried labour is liable to cause delivery before the after-birth is fully separated from the uterus, and the exhaustion from needless exertion tends to suspend 'the process of separation and ft is retained, or an injurious hdemorrhage is occasioned by its removal. When ! in'the stanchion she is more likely *to suspend efforts till the natural contraction of the uterus. compels the delivery of the foetus. A waste of strength is thus avoided, and delivery postponed till the complete separation of the after-birth has occured,r when its retention and liability to undue hcemorrhage are also avoided. The course of events does not always take this direction, but the 'tendency is very likely to run this way. So that, though the tying up at such a time may seem severe and even " shocking" to some, other circumstances may mitigate and even more than overbalance the apparent severity. In a long experience in caring for cows my observations have accorded pretty well with those of the •' veterinarian " complained of. If cows could be left entirely to themselves upon such occasions they would doubtless gener-r ally get along better than in any state of confinement. It is natural for them when the labor pains begin to come on to spend some time in moving round slowly to find some isolated and secluded as well as comfortable place. This I wouldunqueStionably be the most comfortable way df delaying the event till nature is fully prepared for her perfect work, but the trouble it occasions in caring for the cow and calf afterward wilLnot allow of such liberty.