A REST PERIOD.

Otago Witness, Issue 4031, 16 June 1931, Page 12

A REST PERIOD.

The health of the cow is obviously of paramount importance, and any extra care which is taken by dairy farmers will be well repaid. It is during the off season that many dairymen permit their cows to look after themselves, and some dairymen may possibly prolong the milking close up to calving time. This is a huge mistake. Practical experience has shown that a cow will produce more milk and butterfat in a year if allowed to have a rest period of from six to eight weeks than if she is milked continuously. The fat test has been somewhat increased in extreme cases by liberal feeding during this rest period. The better the cow the more necessary the rest period becomes and the younger the cow the more value the dry period becomes. Thus for a young cow and a heavy producer, we would recommend the longer dry period, while with the older cow and poorer producer we would suggest the shorter rest period. It is but common sense to view the matter on the lines indicated if the most is to be made out of the cow. An animal producing, say, several thousand pounds of milk a year has decidedly lowered her body reserve at the end of the milking period. Experimental work would lead us to believe that the heavy producer cannot assimilate enough mineral matter from the feed to maintain the mineral content of her milk without robbing her body. Such reserve must be replaced during the dry period if good production ia to be expected in the following lactation. The unborn calf should also be considered in answering the question, why the cow should have a rest period. The needs of this foetus for protein and minerals especially become greatest two months just previous to calving. Even if this requirement is over emphasised, the cow that is asked to produce milk and meet the needs of the calf she carries, must naturally suffer under the double strain. Practical as well as experimental evidence, and especially the records of cow testing associations throughout the country, demonstrate the value of a dry or rest period during which liberal feeding is just as essential as at any other period in the life of the cow. Sometimes, not often perhaps, the job of feeding the cow so that she will stop milking demands as much skill as that of feeding her to maintain high production. Some of our heavy milking cows have been milked on for years

without a rest period, and this despite the efforts of the cow’s skilful owners. Succulence and protein are two feeding factors that should be largely kept out of the ration; the provision of a poor grade of hay, in lieu of succulent grass, is the first procedure. Daily milking should give place to alternate milking, but it should be borne in mind that the desired effect may be greatly minimised where the practice of udder massage or examination is undertaken on the “ off ” days, for manipulation undoubtedly induces a secretion of milk. The period between milkings should be lengthened, and the schedule when decided upon must be lived up to religiously. A little milk should be left in each quarter, and finally all milking stopped. In very stubborn cases it may be necessary to limit the amount of water. This wjll result in greater kindness to the cow than milking her right through to freshening. The importance of knowing the breeding date should be here emphasised. A cow that is not dry three weeks before freshening begins to receive the stimulation for greater production and the drying-off of the cow becomes well-nigh impossible. A careful dairyman will study his breeding chart, and is not caught napping in such a situation. The dry cow should freshen in a thrifty condition, and in good flesh, and be fed something in addition to the customary roughage obtainable in a back paddock. The feed should comprise, say, good quality hay, lucerne, turnips, etc. A little a day will keep troubles away. It is advisable during the time the cow is dry to treat any warts showing on the teats. The application of remedies during the milking season often causes soreness, while in washing the teats the dressing is removed; There are several simple yet efficacious remedies. Rubbing with the juice of a lemon will dry and harden the excrescences, and in about a week they can be pulled out. A dessertspoonful of washing soda in a cup of water, used three or four times a day, will get rid of warts in a few days, while the daily application of castor oil is also effective.