DISEASES IN CATTLE.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4397, 31 March 1922, Page 1

DISEASES IN CATTLE.

EFFECT ON PLAINS HERDS). WORK OF THE VETERINARIAN. The Hauraki Plains Veterinary Club has now been in existence for about three months, and the work of the veterinarian, Dr. J.| Jensen, has been clofeely followed, not cjily by the club members, but by others in that district and on the western portion of the Hauraki Plains, where the formation of .a second club is being contemplated. Like other profes--sional .men, Dr. Jensen has had his busy limes and slack periods during the three months with .the club, but the slack times have been extremely rare. During one day recently he visited as many as 21 cases, liraveiling on horseback for 27 miles in all to attend to that day’s duties.' It is understood that Dr. Jensen is to give a series pfl lectures to his club members concerning the diseases in cattle, and how tlo treat them so as to minimise losses in the herdsj Naturally these lectures will not be for non-members’ ears, and. the press will not be admitted. Recognising these factst but with a view to gaining some information from the veterinarian without betraying anything which should be kept solely among club members, a “Gazette” reporter recently interviewed Dr. Jensen. FRESH WATER DIFFICULTY. Water, said Dr. Jensen, is a big factor on the Haur;aki Plains. There are few bor6s in the district giving the pure umninerhlised water which is best for the cow. In an area outside his district is a, farm with two mineralised water bores and one fresh, unmineralised water bore, the latt'er going .to a depth of something like 300 ft or 400 ft. The herd gives preference to the fresh water. Dr. Jensen is experimenting with a chemical. filter, which will make the swamp water nearly as good as that from the springs. The success of the experiments will be awaited anxiously by all those who experience trouble with w.ater., The detrimental effect the mineralised water has in some cases is exemplified by the fact that Mr G. Gray, of Turua, had 14 cows go dry in three - days. He immediately analysed the water in all his found one that contained mineral acid. This well was closed up without delay and tlhe cows treated to counteract the acid in the system. He was able to get all the cows back into milk, but had he not acted immediately he would have lost, half his herd, and if neglected altogether the whole herd would have died. WORMS AND GERMS. Explaining a few -more water troubles, Dr. Jensen said .a worm known as the zetseti worm was, in a few cases, making its appearance in the water troughs. . So far, however, he was not experiencing any great trouble in that’ direction.. Enterities, the" ordinary germ present in human dysentery, is another trouble which, is coming in the water and is at present found especially round Netherton. ULCERATION AND TUBERCULOSIS Ulceration, continued Dr. Jensen, has been very prevalent l this season, and many farmers have considerable trouble in getting their cows in calf. A large amount of this trouble is due to ulceration. The testing of cows for tuberculosis is now finding favour wi,th a large number of farmers, especially in the club area, and the club’s laboratory is now stocked with an ample supply of tuberculin for the diagnosis of tuberculosis. Dr. Jensen stated that he had enough tuberculin for testing 2000 cciws. CLUB DISTRICTS. It is believed that the Hauraki Plains Club, with its headquarters at Turua, is only a forerunner of several similar clubs jjn the Thames Valley and Hauraki Plains. lit) is common property that one for the western portion of the Plains Is mooted, and already efforts tp have it organised have been made. Dr. Jensen, with the permission of his club, will shortly, deliver a lecture to Ngatea settlers, with the intention of furthering this project. The fact that many Ngatea farmers are desirous of either forming another club or joining the present club, is evidence i i itself of the valuable work done oy Dr, Jensen and the sound principle on which the club is based. It is thought that the formation of other clubs will follow, until the whole of the Hauraki Plains and Thames Valley is well supplied with, veterinarians.