DISEASES AMONG CALVES.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1232, 14 September 1911, Page 8

DISEASES AMONG CALVES.

USEFUL EXPERT ADVICE. t A few of tho more important disorders to which calves arc subject, their causes, and the necessary precautions to effect their prevention and oure were dealt with in Taranaki recently by Mr. Broom, Government veterinary surgeon. When natural food had to bo departed from, said Mr. Broom, trouble had to bo expected and the further we departed from , tho natural food the more trouble we wero sure to get. One did not have to look far for evidence of indigestion in calves in Taranaki. Tho bristly-coated,' roach-ed-ba'cked, emaciated pot-bellied calf was as much the rule as tho exception. One did not see this class of calf in stud herds, but where calves were either reared by the mothers or well-reared by hand with milk. The digestive organs .of the young calf, he added, are not in a state of development to enable it to digest anything but tho most skilfully prepared artificial foods, administered in proper quantities. Care At Birth. First of all, it is necessary at birth to take care'that the bowels of the young Calf act in a proper manner. In a stato of nature the youngster receives a natural purge by tho first milk of the' mother, but when the calf does not receivo this it > will often be necessary to give a small doso of castor oil. Then, again, in regard to the food of tho calves. Skim-milk should be given as fresh as possible. It should bo stored in clean vessels, and clean pails used in the handling of it, otherwise the decomposition which is sure to take place is bound to have a serious effect on the calves. There is no doubt, said Jlr. Broom, that the practice of feeding calve 3 only once or twice a day is too great a departure from Nature to enable good results to bo obtained, and ho would strongly recommend feeding , at least three times a day. Tho calf fed by its mother received its sustenance at very frequent intervals, he pointed out. ; The more frequent feeding would prevent "gorging," and "gorging" was injnrions, distending the intestines and producing the pendulous abdomen so often seen in calves—in fact, sorao animais never sremed to' regain proper shape. Frequent attacks of flatulcnco (tympanitis) in which the calf appears blown up, and diarrhoea and scouring, all indicate indigestion, brought on through faulty feeding and decomposed foodstuffs. Calves also frequently suiter from a condition approximating -fiinzy. -, Tho> seem to go mad, tearing about, gallop iuto fences, finishing up by running around in a circle, and dropping down to die. This results from gorging, and on opening a calf dying in this way, there is found .in tho stomach a hard, dry mass resembling curdi and frequently twice as largo as a man's fist.

Divided Troughs, The feeding, of.'the calves from a divided trough or pail-rack is practised on some farms, and is strongly recommended in preference- ti. the ono common trough, which is so generally in use. .By using the divided trough or pail-rock each calf gets its proper allowance of food, and gorging- by the strong calves is reduced as far as possible. _ The two most common symptoms of indigestion are flatulence and scouring. Of course, as a preventive, the first thing is to see that the food supply is kept as,fresh and clean as possible. It is just , as necessary, 'iu order to have good calves, to keep that fresh, as it is to keep tho milk fresh for the factory. Keep the utensils clean, and kesp the troughs clean. If tho milk is going wrong, or if tho calves are going wrong with indigesHon, a lot of gcod will be effected sometimes by giving a doso of bi-earbonate of soda ia tho milk (a small teaspoonful once a day) or- : limo water (about a wine-glassful to each calf onco n day), this being easily prepared on tho farm. In any case of serrious disorder this treatment should bo preceded by a doso of castor' oil (a winegfassful to each calf).

Navel 111. .; Another common- complaint among young calves was navel ill." This was n form of blood-poisoning, which is one of the complaints that are undoubtedly brought on by placing' the young animals in dirty surroundings. This complaint commences within a day or two of calving, and runs a course generally of only a few days' duration, the .symptoms becoming more intense as it progresses, and often, terminating fatally. The germs of the disoaso gain entrance "by tho navel, which may become swollen sometimes, the legs and joints swell,.tho calf breathes rapidly, there is profuse diarrhoea (usually known as "white scour"), the calf becomes greatly prostrated, and eventually dysentery comes on, which alters the colour of the discharge, making it red feiving rise to the name of blood scour;. Treatment is simple; As the disease commences at the navel, by the entrance of putrid matter, preventive treatment will consist of keeping this part in a perfectly ckan condition right from birth. Avoid putting the calves into dirty yards, old sheds or buildings, and especially avoid putting them into disused pigstyes, which are so convenient, for the pig also is a sufferer .from this complaint and a great spreader of it. If the disease has already made, its nppeaiunce amongst the calves treatment will consist in the application of an antiseptic dressing to the navel, and for this purpose.carbolised oil is used with success. Apply it on the palm of aclean hand daily for the first week' after birth. At the same time, administer lime-water daily with the milk in order to overcome the diarrhoea, which accompanies tho disorders.

Stomach and Lung Worms, Among diseases which make their appqarance a little later on are stomach worms (parasitic gastritis) and lung-worm (parasitic bronchitis). In the first-men-tioned complaint the parasites usually commence' their ravages among calves from the ago of about six months, and may causo trouble during the first 18 months of a calf's existence, or even later. Symptoms exhibited by a mob. of calves suffering from the presence of stomach worms are the usual unthrifty-on-, pearance, staring coat, arched backs, the calves "doing" badly, and wasting. At times there is diarrhoea, and a may be present. They show a peculiar haggard facial expression and a pendulous belly. The mortality caused by this complaint is very great. This dise'aso is found, as a rule, wh'.'ie calves are paddocked on played-out pastures, and often when they drink from stagnant pools or clow-running creeks. Tho absence of suitable shelter also has a considerable influence in oncouraging the disease. When a mob of calves is being attacked by the stomach-worm it becomes absolutely essential to remove thorn on to nutritious pastures. See, that they have a supply of clean, fresh water and suitable shelter Over and above this, the addition of a nutritious diet will be very benoflcfal This should consist of dry feed, such as crushed oats and chaff, which have a wonderful effect in combatting the di«eas? Great benefit has resulted from ifccdinc oven a few handfiils of this every <fny. Lungworm is fairly prevalent, but uot nearly so prevalent as formerly. It is more easily recognised than stomach worm, on account of the accompanviii" cough. General treatment is the same as in the disease just mentioned. In this disease, as well as in parasitic gastritis, mediciuo will bo found totally unavailing without strict attention to tho other points mentioned—nutritious dictin? and <o on Many dairyfarmors, said Jtr. Broom to a/'Xews" reporter, do not seem to recognise that it is impossible to rear healthy and well-developed heifers which have been stunted in growth by ailments when young. They could not expect a fire healthy, well-matured cow to be the product of a calf which in its upbringing had passed through a succession of disorders which it had just been able to survive.

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