EFFECTS OF IODINE

Hokitika Guardian, 12 April 1929, Page 7

EFFECTS OF IODINE

RESULTS WITH STOCK. LONDON, Fell. 22. During the past lew years twrites the agi iculturai t orresp.indent of the “.Morning Post”) experiments have been carried out in .Europe, North America, South Africa, Autralia and elsewhere to discover the full value of iodine a.-> an addition to the mineral laiioo of live-stock. .Minerals are essential to the wellbeing ot all domestic animals, hut modern research has discovered that the lull i'lleciU ve.ness of' mineral ration depends largely on the presence of a small ijiiaiiiity of iodine in its most convenient I'ornr— polassic iodine, or iodate.

The dose is singularly small; 10 grains a week is sullieient for bullock or cow, I) will sullice horse or pig, from 3 to 4 is enough for a sheep.

Dr lloyl (;rr, Director of the Howett Research Institute, Aberdeen, believes that the correctly balanced mineral mixture will prolong by two or ihreo years Hie useful life of a cow, and it is stated that iodine will add at least one year to the productive life of a domestic hen, though for poultry three grains of potassie iodine Is ample.

IMPROVES THE PROGENY

Not only is it claimed as a result of expert scientific investigation carried on in all parts of the world, that this apparently insignilicent dose has a definite and salutary effect on the animal but it is understood that it improvides the quality of the progeny, and makes them healthier, bringing about an earlier maturity and an increased fecundity.

At itlie Agricultural) Experimental Station, Ohio, (J.S.A., Dr. .Munro fed iodine to cows during the lactation period. One animal produced 15,00011> ol milk, as against 1.0,0001 b ill the previous period when no iodine was given and the fat content went up by nearly 2501 b; the milk from an older cow increased 57001 b to 8:l(X)lb, with an increase of butter-fat from 3001 b to 4701 b.

Another advantage claimed for iodine in the mineral ration is that it enables cows to retain calcium and plio aphonia during the period of their heaviest milk yield. In normal circumstances the loss of these elements is serious and alfecls the animal’s health. EFFECT ON I’ICS. An experiment on pigs on a ranch, recorded by .Mr C. Kiln is Smith, shows surprising results. Three pens of in-pig sows were kept for treatment. „

The first pen of seven received 15 grains of potassium iodine daily per head /The second pen (five in number) received 5 grains of sheep lyroid, and the third pen (also live) had no special treatment. The sows in the first pen produced 5(5 young, with a loss of 2; the sows in the second 32 young, with a loss of 6; and the sows in the third 18 young, with a loss of 13. Another curious result of the new feeding is reported by Dr Keith from Pemberton Valley, British Columbia, where some of the calves from two-year-old lieilers were cretins, and about 90 per cent died within two or three days. Jt was impossible to rear pigs in that district, and the eggs of the domestic hens, though fertilised, failed to hatch out. The introduction of iodine to the diet removed all these troubles. It is claimed that iodine will cure or even avert foot-and-mouth disease, that it is effective in ringworm, milk fever, wooden tongue, and even tuberculosis in cattle.