Some people continue to milk their cows until within a very short time
of calving. This is very poor economy. The milk at such times is thin
and insipid, and unfit for food. I have never found any “preparatory
treatment” of the cow prior to parturition, such as physicing,
etc., to be necessary; but place her on short rations for a few
days—administering, as one writer terms it, “judicious starvation.” The
feed of roots is continued, as they exert a laxative effect on the bowels
and tissues, thereby obviating the necessity of giving a huge dose of
Epsom Salts. In an experience of fifteen years, by following this plan
of restricting the diet, I have not had a case of milk fever, apoplexy,
or retention of placenta, and but one case which called for assistance,
and this was due wholly to an accident. When a single cow is kept, she
is, of course, exempt from the ill consequences which so often result
from crowding and fighting with other cows, and, if kindly treated and
provided with comfortable accommodations for feeding and shelter, she
will seldom have any trouble. But cases where assistance is indispensable
do sometimes occur, even under the best management, the most frequent
of which is the retention of the placenta or after-birth. If, at the
end of twenty-four hours, the cow has not “cleaned,” it is then time
to undertake the removal of the placenta. This can be accomplished by
carefully introducing the right arm of a man having a small hand, which
should previously be well greased, into the cavity of the uterus, when
the connecting attachments will readily be found and may be separated,
after which the whole may be brought away. These attachments are often
quite numerous, and care should be taken that all are detached, and that
the whole of the after-birth is removed, as serious results sometimes
occur when a portion of it is retained.
If, from any cause, the fœtus has got into an unnatural position,
or shows any other presentation than that of the two fore feet and
muzzle, natural labor may be rendered impossible, and assistance will
be required in order to set matters right. There are several abnormal
positions in which the calf may be presented, while there are but two
positions in which delivery is practicable. In the natural position the
two fore feet and nose are the parts which make their first appearance.
When this is the case we may generally conclude that our services
will not be required. If, on the other hand, there is any alteration
of this position, either by the absence of the head or of one or both
feet, or if, when labor pains have continued for some time, there is
no presentation at all, it will be necessary to investigate the cause.
The owner’s duty, in cases of this nature, will be to restore it, by
judicious manipulation, to its normal position, or to such a position as
will render delivery practicable. If, from the nature of the case, the
fore legs and nose of the fœtus cannot be brought into such a position,
we must endeavor to bring up the hind legs and deliver it in that
position. It frequently occurs in this position, as well as sometimes in
the natural one, that traction will have to be applied. In such cases
it should be applied simultaneously with the throes of the cow. In rare
cases it becomes necessary to amputate portions of the fœtus and bring
them away separately, which operation should be left to the veterinary
surgeon. In fact, whenever assistance is required, it is better to
employ the services of a competent surgeon, if such can be obtained. But
where professional assistance cannot be obtained, it is much better to
use one’s own judgment than to depend on the village cow doctor, who is
usually one of the most ignorant persons in the community. Happily, cases
requiring any assistance, where a single cow is kept, are rare.
For _Mamitis_ or garget I have given successfully the following powder
twice daily: Pulverized Digitalis, one drahm; Nitre, one ounce; Cream of
Tartar, one-half ounce; mix and give in the feed. If the bag is caked and
hard, let the calf run with the cow for a few days.
I do not consider it profitable to raise the calf, therefore I dispose of
it as soon as possible. There are always plenty of farmers or farmers’
boys who are glad to buy a good calf to raise, and will willingly pay one
or two dollars for the same, and take it right away. I prefer to raise
and fatten a pig instead.