HEALTH OF THE HERDS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 5, Issue 9, 11 September 1945, Page 2

HEALTH OF THE HERDS

RANGITAIKI PLAINS AREA OFFICERS REPORTS In his report to the annual meeting of shareholders in the Rangitaiki Dairy Company, Inst Wednesday, the veterinary Mr Alex Thomson, stated that during the year he had made a total of 1(50.? visits made up as follows: Milk fever'cases—1-11 visits; ealving eases —163 visits; general eases —733.visits; horses. —361 visits," pigs—63 visits; dogs—l 22 visits. Although the report continued milk lever was common in the spring, most eases were of the uncomplicated type and recovered promptly when treated. Calving trouble was very common in the early part of the spring while bloat also caused serious' trouble particularly on those farms which had been flooded. Paspnlum staggers, was common during the autumn months whilst during the haymaking season there was an outbreak of strangles amongst horses. This latter infection yielded readily to treatment, with some of the sulphomimides'. Mastitis also caused considerable loss on some farms. Many suppliers were, asking about the possible uses of D-D.T. on the farm and indications were that it would be valuable as a parasiticide in piggeries. Within the last two years< ? irives-! tigations had shown that a copper deficiency existed in different parts; of the Rangitaiki district. This could' be overcome by topdressing with bluestone at 51bs per acre. As usual, pleurisy and paratyphoid caused serious losses among pigs on some farms. A fair number of suppliers and other residents of the district had had their dogs immunised against distemper. Mr F. S. Bacteriologist, stated that he had carried out the following te&ts: Milks —9137; hulls—17; gauges—6; buttermilks- -63 ; creams—4oo; water—36; factory—• 201;. miscellaneous —215; a total of 10 075 tests. Vaccine issued amounted to 26,-100 cc. , The report also dealt with the incidence of mastitis and went on f to discuss the use of milking machines. In June a lantern lecture was given to the Paengaroa Young Farmers.' Club. The report continued: "The apparatus devised by me some seasons ago for keeping up the strength of r.lkali in the can washer has been favourably commented on by the English manufacturers of the can washer and was. described a few months ago in the Australian Milk and Dairy Products Journal. Some months ago, trouble was experienced with spotty butter and samples of salt suspeotedi were sent to the Laboratory. One supply of salt differed microscopically in showing different and larger crystals and clumps of crystals. This did not have to be discarded but required more time to dissolve liefore working. As a matter of inters est only, samples were also sent to other laboratories and confirmed. Mr Lee Dairy Instructor of the Hamilton Office, checked with me numbers of cream samples until we went off daily creams. He hopes to co-operate again during the present season."