It is an old and true saying, and the truth of it is nowhere more evident than in treatment of the Milch Cow; that the prevention of an evil is better than the cure. The Cow should be dried six or eight weeks before calving, for two reasons: First, the strength and constitution of the Cow require a little respite. Second, the mixture of the old milk and the new secretions, that nature prepares for the expected calf. During the early period of gestation, the animal may and should be tolerably well fed, for she has to provide milk for the Dairy, and nourishment for the fœtus. But when she is dried, her food should be considerably diminished:—She should not be too fat, or full of blood at the time of calving, for that is the frequent cause of difficult labor, garget fever and death.
There are few things in which the Farmer errs, more than in this. There is also an error in starving her before she calves, but, is much more danger in bringing her into too high condition. Some Cows are apt to slink their calves before their time; this generally happens about the middle of their pregnancy. She becomes feverish of her food, wandering in search of something which she seems to be longing for. She should be immediately removed from the other cows, bled and physiced; the best thing to be done is to fatten her for the butcher, for she will be very certain to do the same again. When the ninth month is nearly expired, she should be looked after; if in high condition, she should be physiced, and if necessary, bled, and if she is about to calve, she should be separated from the other cows, or brought into the cow-house, and suffered to remain quiet, and undisturbed. But should she not be successful in calving within a reasonable time, she should have assistance.
Symptoms:—Are uneasiness, slight lifting of the tail, lying down and getting up. The still earlier symptoms are enlargement of the udder, and redness of the space between the shape and the udder.
Treatment:—When the labor has actually commenced, the membranes will more and more protrude until they break, and the fluid by which the calf was surrounded will escape. If her pains are strong, she should not be meddled with for a few hours. And if no portion of the Calf presents itself, the hand well greased should be introduced, in order to ascertain the situation, and position of the calf. The natural position is with the fore feet presenting, and the muzzel lying upon the fore leg. If this is found to be the case and it has advanced into the passage, sometime longer should be allowed to see what nature will do. However, as soon as you perceive the throes to begin to weaken, if no progress has been made, manual assistance must be rendered.
Here there are two objects to be accomplished; the saving of the lives of both the mother and the young one; all should be done gently.
THE MODE OF ASSISTANCE.
The hand should be well greased, then introduced, and the fore-legs of the calf laid hold of and drawn down, drawing gently at the moment of the mother’s throes. Care should be taken that the head is accompanying them. The hand will sometimes be sufficient for this purpose. If the head cannot be moved by the hand, a cord must be procured with a slip knot at the end, which is to be moved carefully into the passage, and the mouth of the young animal being opened, fastened round his lower jaw, the end of this must be given to an assistant, who should pull gently but firmly at the moment of the throes, while the operator draws out the feet.
Should not this succeed, take two other cords or rope, and fasten one around each leg—two assistants should pull at the feet and another at the head; while one ascertains the progress that is made—too much force should not be used, as the calf may yet be saved. Remember the natural position of the calf, is the presenting of the muzzel lying upon the fore-legs. The most usual false position, is the presentation of the head, while the feet of the calf are doubled down under his belly. A cord must be passed as before, around the lower jaw, which is then to be pushed back into the womb. The operator now introduces his hand and feels the situation of the feet, then fix a cord around each pastern, or about the knee, and bring them into the passage. The head is next to be brought forward again by means of the cord; the cords being now pulled steadily together, it will generally be extracted. Should the calf be dead, and much swollen, the head may then be opened by means of a knife, so as to lessen the bulk. When the feet present and the head is doubled under the rim of the passage, the cords should be placed round the feet, the hand passed into the womb, and the cord looped round the lower jaw. The calf pushed farther back into the womb, the head brought into the passage and the three ropes pulled together. The delivery effected as quickly as may be without the exertion of more force than is necessary.
The last false presentation is the breach—the tail appearing at the mouth of the shape. The hand is to be passed into the uterus, fasten the cords around each hock. The calf is then pushed as far back as possible into the womb, and the hocks are after brought into the passage, the head placed in the proper position, and the ropes changed if necessary, and all three cords drawn gently, until the calf is extracted; considerable force is sometimes needed, but should all be done gently, with an increase of drawing, until the job is completed. By studying these cases, the operator will be able to accomplish his object. In all cases of false presentations, although great force must sometimes be used.