DISEASES IN CATTLE.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXX, Issue 5479, 25 September 1929, Page 4

DISEASES IN CATTLE.

OBSERVATIONS ELSEWHERE.

(By the Department of Agriculture.)

In speaking about the diseases of dairy cattle which are the subject of investigation in the Dominion, reference has been made from time to time to mammitis, contagious abortion, and sterility. A great volume of independent research into these diseases is being carried out in the Dominion not only in the search for new knowledge, but also to enable us to note any outstanding or peculiar incidence of these diseases as compared with other dairying countries. Such research work, especially when carried out in an independent manner, is invaluable from a comparative point of view. The experiences and practices observed in other countries enables the investigator to avoid any more duplication of their experiments than is necessary, and with original ideas to pursue the further investigation and elucidation of those troubles which at the present time await further research. It is interesting to note, in a perusal of some of the most recent publications of research workers in European countries and in the States, the methods of control recommended in those countries as compared with the advice which has been given here. There is no doubt that the older settled countries are still baffled by these problems. A Swedish investigator (Laborator Nils Legerof, Stockholm) has recently visited Denmark, Germany, Switzerland, and Holland, especially to inquire into the treatment of mammitis and sterility in those countries. In an article published in the North American Veterinarian for April, 1929, he says, with reference to mammitis in Denmark : “Streptococcic mastitis is treated according to the very old method of frequent milking.” In Germany, “in handling streptococcic mastitis many late promising methods of treatment had been tried, without any real success. For this reason the old method of milking five to six times a day continues to be the method of choice.” “For streptocoo cic mastitis, which is very prevalent in Switzerland, bathing with cold water three times a day and frequent milkings. Injections into the udder have not been found of value.” In Holland, “after experimenting with serums, vaccines, and various chemicals in streptococcic mastitis they have gone back to the old frequent milking methods , milking every hour if possible, isolation of the affected subjects and stable disinfection. Here, too, it is forbidden to use milking machines on mammitis infected herds, as it is considered they spread the disease.”

It is at once apparent that the essence of treatment in these countries is frequent milkings. This is quite sound, for it is based on the fundamental principle underlying the treatment of all suppurating processes—i.e., drainage. As a comparison the following is the substance of bulletin 141 on mammitis issued last year by the Department of Agriculture :— Prevention. Practice rigid cleanliness in all things. Pay particular attention to milking-machines and teat cups. See that the machines are (a) running at the proper pressure and not too high, and (b) that they are not left on too long. All cows known or. suspected to have anything wrong with the udder must be milked last by hand. Never strip an affected quarter on to the ground—always into a receptacle containing disinfectant. The early detection of mammitis cases is of the utmost importance, both from the preventive and curative points of view. This is best done by taking a strip or two of the fore milk from each quarter before putting the machines on. ,Take these strips into a bucket the top of which is covered with fine wire gauze. Any small clots in the fore milk are then immediately detected, and a cow whose milk contains them must be regarded as a case of mammitis and treated accordingly. Treatment. Stripping.—The most important feature of treatment is frequent stripping. This reduces the invading army of germs, and also removes the tissuedamaging substances which they produce ; moreover, by Keeping the affected quarter as empty of milk as possible, the ! germs will be deprived of much of their food supply. Stripping should be done at frequent intervals —the oftener the better. Even if it could be done every two hours it would not be too often ; in fact, it would be very advantageous.

Massage.—This should be done thoroughly but gently, from above downwards towards the teat. Do it after stripping. Olive oil or some simple harmless lubricant must be used to prevent chaffing the skin when massaging. When this is done, again strip out the milk that massaging has brought into the milk cistern. Fomentation.—This is particularly helpful in acute cases in the early stages. It is best done by applying a flannel wrung out in hot water, keeping the water hot throughout. Not less than half an hour should be spent in doing this. Afterwards rub in some olive oil to w’ard off the effects of cold after the fomentation. Avoid turning the cow out if the weather is bad or there is no sheltered place to put her in. Foment thrice daily while the quarter is hot and swollen. The failure of vaccine treatment for mammitis is especially noted in Holland. To quote an American opinion (Dr. F. S. Jones, Journal of American Veterinary Association, December, 1927) : “So far no one has been successful in actually preventing udder infection by the injection of a vaccine.”

Experimental work with the use of infected milk and intra-mammary injections with various chemicals has also been done in New Zealand for some time past without any beneficial results. The precautionary measures,

mentioned above, that can be carried out by the farmer himself are of the utmost importance, especially in regard to the cleanliness and care in handling milking machines, 't is generally accepted that where infection exists it is harder 1 to control in ma-chine-milked herds. Care relative to milking machines is particularly necessary.

Dealing with sterility, the Swedish investigator mentions that in the countries visited treatment is carried out according to the methods of Albrechten and Hess-methods, with which we are quite familiar in New Zealand. In short, they consist of manipulation of the ovaries and a specialised method of irritating the uterus. Both methods give excellent results in cases where there is well defined disease conditions ; but unfortunately do not appear to give equal results in the temporary form of sterility, which constitutes by far the greatest majority of cases under investigation. Temporary sterility appears to be a functional sterility, and noticeable disease conditions of any importance are conspicuous by their absence. Following this line, considerable investigational work is on hand in New Zealand with the use of calcium by various methods, mineral supplements, and the use of the fairly recently discovered vitamin E, work which should offer a far more promising field.