The castration of cows has been practised for several years in different
parts of the world, with such remarkable success, that no one will doubt
there are advantages to be derived from it. For the benefit of those who
may have doubts on this subject, we give the opinions of a committee
appointed by the Rheims Academy to investigate the matter.
"To the question put to the committee--
"1st. Is the spaying of cows a dangerous operation?
"The answer is, This operation, in itself, involves no more danger than
many others of as bold a character, (as puncture of the rumen,) which
are performed without accident by men even strangers to the veterinary
art. Two minutes suffice for the extraction of the ovaries; two minutes
more for suturing the wound.
"2dly. Will not the spaying of cows put an end to the production of the
species?
"Without doubt, this is an operation which must be kept within bounds.
It is in the vicinity of large towns that most benefit will be derived
from it, where milk is most generally sought after, and where pasturage
is scanty, and consequently food for cows expensive. On this account it
is not the practice to raise calves about the environs of Paris. Indeed,
at Cormenteul, near Rheims, out of one hundred and forty-five cows kept,
not more than from ten to fifteen calves are produced yearly.
"3dly. Is spaying attended with amelioration of the quality of the meat?
"That cows fatten well after being spayed is an incontestable fact, long
known to agriculturists.
"4thly. Does spaying prolong the period of lactation, and increase the
quantity of milk?
"The cow will be found to give as much milk after eighteen months as
immediately after the operation; and there was found in quantity, in
favor of the spayed cows, a great difference.
"5thly. Is the quality of the milk ameliorated by spaying?
"To resolve this question, we have thought proper to make an appeal to
skilful chemists resident in the neighborhood; and they have determined
that the milk abounds more by one third in cheese and butter than that
of ordinary cows."
Mr. Percival says, "No person hesitates to admit the advantages
derivable from the castration of bulls and stallions. I do not hesitate
to aver, that equal, if not double, advantages are to be derived from
the same operation when performed on cows."
"It is to America we are indebted for this discovery. In 1832, an
American traveller, a lover of milk, no doubt, asked for some of a
farmer at whose house he was. Surprised at finding at this farm better
milk than he had met with elsewhere, he wished to know the reason of it.
After some hesitation, the farmer avowed, that he had been advised to
perform on his cows the same operation as was practised on the bulls.
The traveller was not long in spreading this information. The Veterinary
Society of the country took up the discovery, when it got known in
America. The English--those ardent admirers of beefsteaks and roast
beef--profited by the new procedure, as they know how to turn every
thing to account, and at once castrated their heifers, in order to
obtain a more juicy meat.
"The Swiss, whose principal employment is agricultural, had the good
fortune to possess a man distinguished in his art, who foresaw, and was
anxious to realize, the advantages of castrating milch cows. M. Levrat,
veterinary surgeon at Lausanne, found in the government of his country
an enlightened assistant in his praiseworthy and useful designs, so
that, at the present day, instructions in the operation of spaying enter
into the requirements of the programme of the professors of agriculture,
and the gelders of the country are not permitted to exercise their
calling until they have proved their qualifications on the same
point."--_London Vet._ p. 274, 1850.
For additional evidence in favor of spaying, see Albany Cultivator, p.
195, vol. vi.
We have conversed with several farmers in this section of the United
States, and find, as a general thing, that they labor under the
impression that spaying is chiefly resorted to with a view of fattening
cattle for the market. We have, on all occasions, endeavored to correct
this erroneous conclusion, and at the same time to point out the
benefits to be derived from this practice. The quality of the milk is
superior, and the quantity is augmented. Many thousands of the miserable
specimens of cows, that the farmer, with all his care, and having, at
the same time an abundance of the best kind of provender, is unable to
fatten, might, after the operation of spaying, be easily fattened, and
rendered fit for the market; or, if they shall have had calves, they may
be made permanent, and, of course, profitable milkers.
If a cow be in a weak, debilitated state, or, in other words, "out of
condition," she may turn out to be a source of great loss to the owner.
In the first place, her offspring will be weak and inefficient;
successive generations will deteriorate; and if the offspring be in a
close degree of relationship, they will scarcely be worth the trouble of
rearing. The spaying of such a cow, rather than she shall give birth to
weak and worthless offspring, would be a great blessing; for then one of
the first causes of degeneracy in live stock will have been removed.
Again, a cow in poor condition is a curse to the farmer; for she is
often the medium through which epidemics, infectious diseases, puerperal
fever, &c., are communicated to other stock. If there are such diseases
in the vicinity, those in poor flesh are sure to be the first victims;
and they, coming in contact with others laboring under a temporary
indisposition, involve them in the general ruin. If prevention be
cheaper than cure,--and who doubts it?--then the farmer should avail
himself of the protection which spaying seems to hold out.