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The average period of gestation in the cow is 270 days; the shortest
120 days, and the longest 313 days. The calf is placed in the same
position, and in the same side of the cow, as is the foal in the mare.
Mal-presentations of calves are treated in the same manner as those of
the foal, with this advantage, that calves will live much longer than
the foal. I have had cases, where I extracted the calf twenty-four
hours after they were raised, and delivered them alive and sound.
About two weeks before calving, the cow should have, in addition to
her ordinary food, a half pint of rye, evening and morning, as that is
a sure means of taking the cleaning right after the delivery of the
calf. Should this be neglected, she should be slopped with two quarts
of wheat bran and half a teacupful of flaxseed, twice a day. If the
cleaning does not come off on the third day, it should be twisted back
of the cow’s shape, until it becomes a solid cord, when a small knife
enclosed in the hand should be introduced into the womb, and the cord
cut off about fifteen inches from the entrance. This is about all that
will incommode the cow; the other will pass off about the ninth day,
and the cow will be all right. Should the cow have inflammation in the
udder, or any other place, she should be drenched with one lb. of Epsom
Salts. The horns should be examined, and if they are sometimes warm and
then cold again, a hole should be bored through them, about two inches
from the head, and the back of the cow should be fomented with very
strong salt-water; the tail should be slit on both sides about an inch
and a half. In extreme cases a charge should be boiled, and spread on
the loins, consisting of
1 pint of tar,
2 oz. Rosin,
2 oz. Beeswax.
After the charge is spread on, it should be covered with tow or wool.
Calves will sometimes, on account of the cow’s milk being burned, have
a severe Diarrhea. When this is the case they should be drenched with
milk from the cow, containing one large tablespoonful of wheat flour,
and half a teaspoonful of ginger. Should this not be sufficient, opium
may be added to it the size of two grains of wheat.