CARE O DAIRY CATTLE.

North Otago Times, 3 November 1906, Page 2 (Supplement)

CARE O DAIRY CATTLE.

I Woll-bred dairy cows are, as i rule, I of a more or leas nervous temperament land therefore they are very susceptible j to any rough treatment, and are easily < i upset when frightened. "The. nervous ■ system and' the milk-secreting functions [ in a cow being cloaely connected : with | one another, the yield ia most liable to ' bo adversely ufl'ectcd when the cow vis ■ I frightened or excited, In' the interest of milk-production, therefore, if for no other reason, dairy cows should always be treated with great gentleness, -and tlioy must never |>e frightened or bustled in any way, Complete comfon und contentment bf tao cow are essential if she is"to rive a maximum yield of milk (says an ..English exchange;, and care should therefore bo taken to piomote these as much as passible, Anything which tends to disturb dairy cows or io ruffle their' placidity has an adverse effect upon milksecretion, and .must for this reason be avoided. Thus is .it of importance "that regularity, and punctuality in milking and feeding should bo observed, as the cowa are upset and rendered restless ; if they are not milked at the accustomed time, or are kept waiting for their foqd beyond the usual hour.'Aftor .feeding, and when tho cows are lying down chewing the cud, they should not be disturbed in any way. In driving tho dairy herd pasturage, tho cows slitnW" be taken along at a vory leisurely pace, and they ought not to be hustled. There is room' for much improvement in regard to this matter on many dairy farms, arid a little supervision may with advantage bo bestowed on the taking out' or fetching home of the herd. It is most objectionable for cows to be chased about in any way. During tho summer it is most desirable that the cows should have plenty of shade on the pastures, this being essential to their comfort. Want of shale is a source of great discomfort to grazing cattle, and exposure to a hot Bummer sun is not good for them. On pastures on which there are no well-grown hedges or trees to afford the necessary shade some rough shelter against thesunshould bo provided,