Farm and Dairy.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 203, 25 February 1914, Page 7

Farm and Dairy.

GOVY-TEKTIS'G. The best cow in !he I-! rat ford MilkTcstiug Association for ihe period ending Vebruarv 17. gave illlOlh milk and 47.701bs fa I.' Willi a le.-t of ."i.3. The worst cow gave -li;.')!b, miiic and OUbs fat. with a lest of 2. In the Midhind As,o.-iation for the period ending rVbruarv' 12th. the. beM cow gave U-Wlb milk and ">7lb fat, will. 'a test of :> and Ihe worst cow 5101b •' milk ami !1.571b fa!, with a test of 4.7. 'i MILKING REFOKK CALVING., i ! It is very desirable that a heifer should develop a good udder, and to remove Ihe milk before she calves is to stop such udder extension, and at the same time stimulate the milk secreting glands, so that the material which she needs to develop her calf is diverted to making more milk. It fakes as much feed to produce a calf at full time as to make 100011) of milk". Consider a calf born at seven months, how small it is. and compare it with one at full time, only two months later, and one realises that from two-thirds to three-fourths of this growth—and consequent demand for building material in the way of feed —is needed in the short lime. We have it neighbor who milked a heifer for five weeks before calving. The injury in. such a case cannot help but be serious, and likely permanent, because when the milking' is once begun it must be continued. Heifers often make up a bag Vefore calving, which left alone will re- . Juee. The swollen udder is a much less serious thing in the, heifer than with a cow which has been milked a season. When the time at which the calf should come is known, and the heifer shows distress because of a distended udder, it is humane to draw a little milk a few hours before, but it is better not; and no serious trouble will result if her bowels are kept loose with laxative* foods and a dose or two of Epsom salts in three-fourths of a pound doses. Avoid also stimulating feeds just at this period, such/ as rank pasture, or concentrated highly nitrogenous foods. Bathing the udder with hot water is good, but this should never be 1 done if she is afterwards to be exposed to cold or draughts. Better apply a cooling ointment, sucb as vaseline or sweet oil, with • plenty of rubbing. .