A COW’S BEST YEARS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1715, 11 January 1905, Page 68

A COW’S BEST YEARS.

When is a cow at her best, is a question often asked. The reply will vary according to circumstances. It is usually reckoned that she reaches full development at about her seventh year—■ that is, at her fourth calf—when she way decline in yielding power, and be ready to draft out from old age at ten years. These figures vary wit-li individual cows of course—the writer, for instance, lias on several occasions had individual cows milking well until their fourteenth and fifteenth years, hut these were exceptional jewels—while, on the other hand, many decline or die off before obtaining these conditions. A recent leaflet issued by the Board of Agriculture contains some very erroneous statements regarding the attack of milk fever in cows. As a matter of experience the liability to contract this disease increases with every calf up to the seventh year (fourth calf). It is not until the sixth year (third calf) that the tendency develops the actual disease —and thus the belief in the fatality of the third parturition has become an article of faith—while the cow that sur vives to her fifth calf is practically immune, has proved her ability to pass the critical season, and will then go on yielding claves and milk in paying quantities for several more years to come. Under ordinary circumstances an average cow ought to pay to keep for seven years—that is, until ten years old ; as a heifer she may not be worth much as a milker, but will keep improving till her fourth or perhaps fifth calf, and then decline year by year thereafter.