FARMING NOTES

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 135, 13 March 1940, Page 3

FARMING NOTES

VETERINARY NOTES FOR THE FARMER PROBLEMS IN BREEDING OF LIVESTOCK Among the many irregularities encountered in the breeding of livestock a not uncommon problem is the case of the dairy cow which > fails to come in season after breeding normally the previous year. In this case there is a failure on the part of the ovaries to function normally and regularly. The failure may be clue to what is known as a persistent corpusjtafcum, or yellow body. This is-~fil«dy which normally, forms in the ovary of a pregnant animal and persists throughout the period of pregnancy. As a consequence, there are no heat periods during pregnancy. If a similar body forms in the ovary of a non«J pregnant animal there is also an absence of heat periods. The treatment of cows affected in way consists of the forcible enu cleation of the yellow body from an affected ovary. Sometimes this is very difficult, and in nearly all j cases requires the service? of an "' J 'Y expert. The ovary is examined and massaged through the wall of the rectum, and if the yellow body is expressed the animal appears in heat in the course of a few days , after treatment. There are many other causes of the non-appearance of heat in ani- ■ mals, and each case requires to be dealt with according to the diagnosis of the underlying cause. Many of the cases require prolonged ant! special treatment, which is practicable only in the case of very valuable stud animals. Another Problem. As an example of another breedX ing problem of a different type, one might take the case of the cow or; mare which appears in heat at irregular and too frequent periods. In these cases the ovaries appear

to be over-active, but in reality many of the heat periods are False. T" and are due to disease of the ovaries themselves. The affected animals are frequently in a nervous, liighly, excitable state, and many mares thus affected exhibit vicious and intractable' characters. In mares it is frequently ncccs-j "y sarj' to spay or remove the diseased, ovaries before the animal can be; considered suitable for work again. Even in the dairy herd an affected j cow proves a disturbing factor, as. 2f the heat periods may appear every few days. Affected animals are referred to> as nympho-ananiacs, and, if neglected for some time, exhibit certain well-known characteristic tendencies. Old-standing cases frequently require surgical treatment by spaying before the animals will settle down and fatten. If the animal has been recently affected it is possible that the formation of cysts in the ovary may be the cause of the trouble. In such a case manipulation and massage of the ovaries may reveal I.he presence -of cysts in the organ. Gentle pressure may rupture one or Xniore of lhe cysls > ant '" if b > r repetii^" tion of treatment Lhe cysts can be /loslroyed in lhe ovary, the animal frequently returns to normal heat periods and becomes a normal breed cr once again. Many breeding problems present themselves to all those associated ■with the and breeding of livestock. considers the extent of int.cti'crcnce brought about by man in the development of animals for greater and greater production it is surprising that reproduction is not more irregular k and more involved. Production and reproduction are so closely related that a true perspective must be maintained if sound progress is to be made. , Breeding Practices. In farming practice there arc certain recognised methods of procedure which are adopted with a view to ensuring successful and satisfactory breeding results. In sheep breeding one of the recognised practices is what is known as/'flushing" • of the ewe (lock before mating. idea behind the practice is to supply a more stimulating diet for it period with a view to increasing I the general vigour and health of K. the flock, [f the general health is Br' Improved there is a tendency to

greater ovarian activity, so that when the rams are put out the ewes settle readily and a better percentage of lambs will result. The practice also tends to cut down the lambing period and prevent, a prolonged lambing in the following spring. Flushing can.not be practised in all cases, and there is a marked result in the lambing -percentages in some districts. So much depends upon the nature of the season and the amount of feed available at or about tupping time. It is generally accepted that in a dry autumn when the flock is on a burnt-up pasture a lower lambing percentage may be expected the following spring. Under such conditions when flushing is impossible, it is most difficult to influence, or increase the Lamb crop.. While such attention is being paid to the ewe flock,, it is advisable to consider the other side of the problem. The ram should be in good health and well fed before being put out with the ewes. If there appears any tendency to foot-rot or lameness, this should be treated before the season is due. Any lameness causing either disability or lever in the ram will result in a number of ewes being missed and remaining empty. A sufficient number of rams should be put out, depending upon the type of country to be covered. A periodic mustering of the ewes may save the rams considerably in rough country.