During the Depression, we wanted to sell every bit of cream we could for income, so the calves were quickly weaned to separated milk, fed to them from buckets. Some persistent cows would go through fences to get to their young calves or would get up close enough to the fence for the calf to stick its nose through the wire to reach the udder.
I never saw a barb-wire yoke, either, and I would consider such a thing rather inhumane because the barbs would be a continual irritation to the cow whether it was going through a fence or not.
As for the "no nurse," I only can remember one instance of this on our farm; a halter on the cow with a stick or tree limb attached to each side that was long enough to drag on the ground solved the problem. Self-sucking usually was a bad habit developed by the cow that was best solved by just selling her.
Seeking information on Emerson plow
I am looking for information on an Emerson horse-drawn, one-bottom plow. I purchased one in very good condition and am interested in learning more about its history.
-Terry Skoczen, (320) 393-3498; 140 S. Division St., Rice, MN 56367; e-mail: atskoczen@cs.com
Reader looking for seed drill specifics
I am trying to locate a drive gear for an old Ferguson seed drill. Does anyone have information? -
Michael Schnipper, 716 A Daniel Dr., Oxford, OH 45056; (513) 523-1994