FARM NOTES.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4821, 11 March 1925, Page 1

FARM NOTES.

DRYING OFF THE COW.

METHODS TO AVOID. There is a considerable divergence of opinion as to the best methods to employ in drying off a cow. Given an animal of extraordinary, or even average, milking capacity, there must be a right and a wrong way of setting about, drying her off when this becomes desirable in view of her approaching parturition, or when milk production is a drawback because the animal is wanted to fatten rapidly. It may be taken that there is not mucn difference of opinion as to the time the in-calf cow should be dry previous to calving again, and most dairy farmers accord from a month to six weeks. In the case of the poor milker there is no difficulty.

A cow in pool’ condition may be allowed two months to recruit her strength, with advantage to herself and her prospective calf, but this is largely a matter of keep, and if the feeding is high, the animal healthy, and the Quality of milk yielded is profitable, there seems no reason why, in' the case of the average’ animal, milking should not be continued until within a month of calving. It is the extraordinary milker that sets up the problem, both as to the policy of drying her off at all and, if it is considered that this is necessary or desirable, in the matter of stopping the secretion. This is the kind of animal that it is highly dangerous to leave unmilked if inflammation of the udder is to be avoided.

With cows whose milking qualities arc of such a lasting character the nlan is favoured of milking only once a day for several days, and then on alternate days, as the supply falls off, but taking care at each milking to strip the udder of everty drop. Experience of nature’s methods teaches us that organs not used or exercised di?appear or cease to perform their functions. It is the persistent dragging at the teats, the patient asking for more, that, in combination with selection, has produced the modern dairy cow. If the drying off is.effected gradually, by prolonging the intervals of milking, ■ the secretion gradually uecomes less without the risks of half milking, or, worse still, in the case of the deep milker, not milking at all.

It is well understood that, neglecting to strip the udder, besides the loss : of th? richest of the milk and lessen 1 ing production, is a very ready way of causing induration or “hard quarter.’’ and converting the cow into a useless animal for milking purposes when she conies to calf again. On farms w>here udder troubles arc very frequent imperfect stripping is generally at the bottom of it; and a change of milker has often resulted in its entire disappearance. Leaving the animal alone altogether, as far .as milking is concerned, must be regarded as a highly dangerous proceeding in the case of a cow giving any quantity of milk, and it is only practicable in those cases where secretion is small indeed.

Allowing a cow to remain too long without milking to ensure a full anid tempting bag at the time of sale has often resulted in acute mammitis, and to do this- with any animal giving a fair quantity is to run grave risk of injuring the cow and of a prosecution for c’ruelty. That the action of milking induces secretion and retards tne process of drying off there is no manner of doubt, but better this than subject the animal to the pain of prolonged retention and over-distention., and risk of inflammation of the udder. When the milk gland is obviously distended it should be relieved. .