My dairy farmer friend uses oatmeal gruel, by the bucket, to feed his cows
when they have mastitis.  He moves in to the barn, pours the gruel in at the
head end, and hand milks the cow frequently to ensure effective emptying of
the inflamed area.  Don't think he does it to increase production, but just
because it is supposed to be a good thing, sort of like chicken soup for a
cold.
This guy has a miraculous effect on lactating females of all species.  He
also adopted a hen that an acquaintance had received as a joke for his 40th
birthday (now you are getting insight into Norwegian culture!).  The hen
lived in the cow barn, and every time my friend came in to do the milking,
she would run around frantically and then lay an egg.  Didn't lay at any
other time, but this guy just had that effect on her.  Children are drawn to
him as well.

Oatmeal gruel was a traditional offering to mothers post partum in the
hospital, but seems to be dying out in many places, sadly.  It looks
unappetizing to the uninitiated but after working nights on post partum for
several years I got almost addicted to it.  There is a beautiful piece
written by a mother whose baby was very ill after birth, in which she
recalls the guardian angels who brought her a cup of oatmeal gruel along
with her baby from the NICU, each morning in the hospital, forever
intertwining the scent of her baby and the aroma of the gruel to mean caring
and nurturing.  If that isn't a magic feather then I don't know what is.
Drink up!
Rachel Myr
Norway
and now I think I will do some work around here...

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