THE FARM.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4895, 26 October 1925, Page 1

THE FARM.

DISEASES OF DAIRY CALVES. PREVENTION AND CURE. Prevention is better than cure, and successful calf feeders have learned that it is far better to depend upon the principles of sanitation and proper feeding than upon the various remedies for disease. Drugs never take the place of proper sanitation and feeding methods, and an ounce of prevention is Worth a pound of cure. The first step to raising healthy calves is to have healthy cows. Diseases of the generative organs of the dam often cause the infection of the new-born calf. The isecond step in preventing diseases of calves is to provide the dam with a weljl-venti-lated, clean, and sun-lighted box-stall. Shortly before calving it is well to disinfect the stall and re-bed with straw. At calving time the dam should not be disturbed if all goes well. If after considerable effort the calf is not born some aid should be given. At birth see that .the cal|f is breathing freely. Remove the mucous membrane from the nose and mouth, if still adhering, and the navel cord should then be dipped into tincture of iodine.

The most common disease of calves and the one giving the most trouble in calf-raising is scours or diarrhoea. It occurs most frequently in young calves, although older ones are sometimes affected. Scours may be due to any one of a number of causes. The chief are over-feeding, irregularity in feeding, exposure to cold or dampness, and dirty pails. Probably overfeeding and dirty pails are .the most common causes. The chief symptom is a profuse watery, ill-smelling bowel discharge, which stains the rear parts of the animals. If this, is not stopped the calf becomes weak and lies, down mqst of the time. Treatment consists in reducing) the food at the first sign of scours. Find out the cause of the trouble. Give a dose of one or two ounces of castor oil mixed with a half pint of milk to clean the bowels. Paraffin oil may be used in place, of; castor oil. Following the physic, one .teaspoonful of a formalin mixture (%oz formalin in 12oz of water) per lb of milk should be given. This treatment should continue for two or three days. Some prefer to. follow the physic by giving a heaped teaspoonful dose of the following mixture : Salol, one part; subnitrate of bismuth, two parts,; bicarbonate of soda, two parts.. This dose is repeated every four hours until the diarrhoea ’ceases. The powder may be given in a little; fresh milk or dry upon the tongue. Calves that are subject to scours, may be given a half pint of lime water in their milk for a week, with good results.