PLAINS HERDS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 6, Issue 4, 14 September 1942, Page 6

PLAINS HERDS

VETERINARY OFFICERS REPORT

HERD CONTROL SYSTEM

In his annual report to the meeting of Rangitaiki Dairy Company suppliers at. Edgecumbe last Wed,nesday the veterinary officer, Mr A. Thompson, stated as under: —-

During the year the following visits Ave re made: Carving cases 132; Milk cases 59; General cases 465; Horses 263 visits; Pigs 16 visits;. Dogs 38 visits.

Milk fever was not so prevalent as in other years probably because grass Avas not too plentiful at the time when the majority of the coavs were calving. There Avere a number of cases of grass staggers in August but the majority of these recovered after suitable treatment.

Bloat Avas not as common as in other years although a feAv farms had a bit of trouble in October.

Mammitis: On a number of farms mammitis Avas spreading to an alarming degree until the herds Avere checked up under the • mammitis control system and affected cows separated from the healthy ones and miliked separately. lif there arc a number of coavs affected this system is much simpler than trying to keep back the affected coavs in the shed. I' Avould like to see suppliers make more use of the herd control system than they do, but must emphasise that unless their side of the job is carried out conscientiously herd control is likely to be a waste of time.

As regards the non-stripping of cows I am of the opinion that this will tend, to reduce the incidence of mammitis in some herds.

White mid blood scour in calves: As usual there Avere losses lr'oni this condition. Most fanners realise the necessity for cleanliness in the feeding of cah r es but more could be done in the isolation of infected calves. Even on farms Avlierc calf paddocks are heavily infected Avitli the bacteria responsibility for the con dition trouble can be greatly minimised by diluting the eah r es' milk Avilh an equal quantity of boiling water. The addition of lysol, kerol, rennet, salt or lime Avater to the. milk is also of value both in the cure* and in the prevention of the

disease

Parasitic gastritis did. not appear to be so seA r ere as in the tAVo prcAdous years probably because of the dry season. I have been unable to secure any phenothiazine for trial but as it has no greater properties against reinfection than any other worm medicine it is most advisable to get calves on to clean country before trouble starts, if at all possible .

Many yearlings during the Avintci months slioav all the symptoms of worm infection but do not respond to the usual treatment. Dosing these with kerol in milk two or three times a Aveek and feeding Avitli milk and anj r calf meal helps these animals but a change to hill grazing especially if there is a fair amount of second growth of native shrubs AA-orks Avonders.

Pig -diseases-: There Avas very little serious trouble amongst pigs during the year. I have pointed out many times that it is most necessary to keep milk barrels- clean but I will again suggest that they be emptied at least once a month and thoroughlj- scrubbed Avith disinfectant.!

Distemper in dogs: Practically every year several good dogs die from this disease and many are crippled to an extent to make them of little iise for Avo-rk. Although

A'aceination against the disease is not quite JOO per cent effectiA'C it' is extremely A*aluable as a prevenlatiA'e and I strongly advise those Avith valuable pups Lo have them immunised. Messages: J thank all those avlio send their calls early in the day and who state to the best of their ability the nature of the case requiring my attention. I realise that many arc working short-handed and thatit is. not possible for them to g'rve their stoclk such close attention as before but there are a few Avlio make no attempt AvhatsocA'er to send their calls early and petrol, tyres and time are wasted, oa roads that I haA<-e been over earlier in the hi v.

Veterinary Supplies: Many <-omniodities a~e in extremely shoit supply and it is ino-.st essential to Awisti nothmg. Poiiis.iiiiin permanganate and chlorine preparations are almost impossible lo get. Vegetable turpentine is a!s () hard to get and I advise those farmers who are chas-

ing "bloated" cows every soring to reserve what tlicy have got for veterinary purposes only. Bottles, corks and tins are ai>o scare and I ask suppliers to return medicine bottles when empty and to send quart bottles and tins for oils, disinfectants and drenches when these goods are r'-cuiii ed. In closing I Avish to express my appreciation of Mr Hodson's assistance and co-operation during the year.