BREAKING IN HEIFERS TO THE PAIL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3254, 26 July 1916, Page 12

BREAKING IN HEIFERS TO THE PAIL.

The breaking in of heifers to the pail is a very important stage in the life of a cow, as upon tho management of her at this time depends to a great extent her usefulness as a dairy cow. A writer in the Farmer and Stockbreeder points out that if she is badly broken in it will result in her always being fidgety and troublesome at milking time, moving constantly, and kicking at her milker. A cow that behavesthus, unless entrusted to a very conscientious and persevering person to milk, is seldom stripped properly, as after a time tho milker's patience _ becomes exhausted, besides which he is apt to stop operations prematurely for fear of the cow turning the full bucket of milk over for tho sake of his wanting to extract the last few drops. Moreover, a cow that is irritable and nervous when being milked does not usually let her milk down freely, which habit tends to diminish the supply. Of course there are a few cows which are naturally not of a placid disposition, and which, even with careful treatment, are nervous and fidgety. But it is more often than, not due to insufficient care and patience being exercised when they calve down for the first time. It often happens that down-calving heifers have been grazing on some outlying land, where they seldom 6eo a living soul, and the change from this to a domesticated life when they calve is more than alarming for the heifer. It is not surprising that endless troublo is experienced before they can be taught to stand quietly and be milked. It is far tho wisest plan to adopt to bring a heifer up to tho farm and let her be tied up with the rest of the milking herd a month or go before she is due to calve. She ■will then at least bo accustomed to the subjection of a chain. During tho time which elapses before she calves she should be handled and tamed as much as time permits. AFTER CALVING. After calving, when suckling her calf, she Should have her teats drawn occasionally, and if she is giving more milk than the calf requires, it is a good opportunity to begin milking her, and to do it at the Bamo time as tho calf Is sucking. She is almost sure to stand quietly while tho ca! f is taking his share, and this will use her to tho sensation of being hand-milked almost without her having realised what has taken place. For the first few times it is better not to put a pail under her, but

miik with one hand into some small vessel, such as a milk measure held in the other hand. Then if she kieks she will feel nothing, and in all probability, finding her efforts are in vain, cease doing 60. When she is thoroughly accustomed to being milked into tho measure the pail may be introduced, and it is as well to let her see the pail being put under, otherwise, if she happens to feel it against her legs., it will be certain to frighten her. A heifer's bag and teats are always somewhat tender at first; therefore she should bo milked only by a light-handed person who will take the milk gently. At the same time she should be milked as quickly as possible, so that she has not time to get tired, and consequently restless, during tho proceeding. Rough milking is the chief cause of sore teats, and if a heifer which is only partially broken gets them, there is tho likelihood of her becoming an habitual kicker; therefore the importance of gentle milking cannot, be too greatly emphasised. A heifer sometimes has very small teats, which often necessitates the streak milking method being adopted throughout, and this is also apt to break the skin of the teats. When possible a person with small hands should milk these cows, as they will be able to employ the nievling or squeezing method, only streak milking at the end to strip. If it can be arranged, a heifer should be allowed to suckle her calf for the first two or three weeks to develop her bag and teats.