In the natural
course of things, a cow would be feeding her calf for half a year, but
we take it away from her, and raise it as well as she could and get an
extra quantity of milk from her in addition. I don't know what to think
myself about dehorning. Mr. Windham's cattle are all polled, and he has
an open space in his barn for them, instead of keeping them in stalls,
and he says they're more comfortable and not so confined. I suppose in
sending cattle to sea, it's necessary to take their horns off, but when
they're going to be turned out to grass, it seems like mutilating them.
Our cows couldn't keep the dogs away from the sheep if they didn't have
their horns. Their horns are their means of defense."
"Do your cattle stand in these stalls all winter?" asked Miss Laura.
"Oh, yes, except when they're turned out in the barnyard, and then John
usually has to send a man to keep them moving or they'd take cold.
Sometimes on very fine days they get out all day. You know cows aren't
like horses. John says they're like great milk machines. You've got to
keep them quiet, only exercising enough to keep them in health.
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