Farm Notes.

Te Aroha News, Volume XXVII, Issue 4448, 12 August 1909, Page 4

Farm Notes.

BEFORE AND AFTER CALVING.

The bowels of the cow at the tim9 of oaiving should be in a loose condition, Such feeds as bran, grass, linseed meal, oats and middlings are very good for the cow about to calve. It is a very good plan to fgive the cow a bran mash for two or three feedings before and after calving. A bran mash is made by taking as much bran as the cow will eat at one feeding and pouring boiling water on it, then covering with a thick cloth, and allowing it to stand until the steam has thoroughly cooked the bran. Then a small handful of salt is stirred well in. Some people also stir in a handful of wood ashes. The mixture is fed. to the cow as hot as she will eat readily.

Cows not used to bran mashes sometimes'do not eat it well at first; but it is not long before they discover the merits of the dish and eat it quite readily. The bran mash should be given especially when there is no grass pasture for the cow to run upon. In case linseed meal is to be fed,

more care should be taken not to over-deed the animal, as it is more laxative than bran, and a more concentrated feed. Five or six pounds of linseed meal a day should make the

ration sufficienly laxative in its nature for a big cow. The linseed meal Should be fed with some other concentrate, such as oats or corn. The

roughages should be such feeds as silage, roots and maize fodder. Do not keep the animal in a confined stall up to the time of calving, but let her have the run of the pasturejpaddock, where she can get plenty of exercise. Immediately before calving do not feed her as large an amount of feed to the feeding as usual, but let it be rather lighter, and follow the same ,rule for a day or two afterward. Keep feeding the hot bran mashes after I calving for two or three days. Never allow the cow to drink cold water at this time, especially just after calving, for it is very apt to produce chills. Warm the water enough to take the chill off. Oats form an excellent feed as part

of the daily ration. The seed con-

tains the food constituents in about - the right proportions to satisfy the demands of the cow.