THE FARM.

Waikato Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1464, 19 November 1881, Page 3

THE FARM.

As a rule, except among those who make it a speciality^ enough attention is not given to feeding brood mares. The best fopd is bruised barley mixed with equal portions of bran, which enables herjj to feed the growing foal oh the very best kind of food to make the most bone and muscle. On the care and treatment of the mare depend the size and condition of the foal at birth. We often see farmers working their brood mares in a heavy team, and treating and feeding them in the same manner as they do other horsei, np to within a few days of their foaling. This is a very unprofitable course to pursue, to say the least. The dam should have moderate exercise but it should be regular. If she is used in a team she should not be driven faster than a walk, or loaded heavy, for in either case there is danger of injuring the mare and ruining the foal. "We have frequent communications," says the American Cultivator, " from our subscribers concerning the fact of their cows giving bloody milk. No one would be suprised at oows giving bloody milk if they were fully aware of what a network of blood-vessels the udder of a oow is composed. No person should ever attempt to milk a cow till he has obtained some knowledge of its structure ; then a we perhaps should dispense with a large number of thoße double-fisted men who do not seem to have any knowledge of the purposes or anatomy of a cow's bag, except for them to squeeze and drag it as though it were a piece of dead hide. There is no objection to the strong-handed man as a milker — the stronger the better, but it should be accompanied by a touch as delicate as a woman's. Whenever the cow manifests the slightest sensitiveness the uddor should be thoroughly examined. Milking is a pluasuro to the cow when everything is all right, and whenever it ceases to afford gratification to the cow there is evidently something wrong. Never fail to wash with warm water the bag of a young heifer, both before and after milking.