THE FARMER.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 4 October 1911, Page 3

THE FARMER.

CONTAGIOUS MAMMITIS.

A NOTE i-OB DAIRY FARAIERS,

This disease in connection with which the dairy-farmer requires to exercise special vigilance. The insidious and rapidly spreading nature of the trouble should be remembered, and no risk should be taken If any. symptom of the disease appears, the affected animal shouldbe practically quarantined, and should not be milked until all the other cows in the herd have been dealt with, so that there may be no trouble of the danger being passed on to the other members of the herd by meiiuni of the milker's hands or the cups of the milking-machine. The danger of spreading contagion is really greater wjith the milking-ma'cliine, nit through any fault of the machine, but because it is more easy for the first noticeable symptoms to be overlooked m mechanical than in hand milking. Oases often occur wherein farmers are themselves unable to" determine whether- contagoustrammitis exists or not. The Department is always ready to render assistance, and any farmer who is in doubt should sand a sample of the milk from the affected or suspected quarter to the Off'cer in Charge, Wallaceville Laboratory, 'Wellington, for microscopical examination. Pending receipt of the report of the examination of the milk the cow should be treated as a possibly dangerous animal, and no precaution omitted to prevent possible infection being spread, from her to others. Following are instructions as to the collection of samples of Jiiilk for examination:—

P-irst get an ordinary 6 oz. medicinebottle. See that' it is thoroughly, cleaned, and iitted with a good, -well fitting- cork. Place the bottle and the cork (but with the latter removed from the bottle) in a clean saucepan or other vessel containing oold water; see that the bottle is filled with the water, and place over a slow fire until the wa< er boils. Then set aside covers ■ cri mi til the water has cooled jvst sufficiently to enablo the fingures to be put into it. Then lift the bottle-by its lower end, and hold upside down until the contained water has all run out ; pick up its cork by the top edge and fit tightly. This will insure that the bottle is thoroughly sterilized. In collecting the milk the udder and teats should be Avell washed with a solution in water of lysol or other disinfectant, an d afterwards rinsed with clean water.; then, after first drawing away a little milk, fill the bottlo direct from the teat; and seal it at once, put it into a secure package, and forward as directed above. N.B.—The symptoms of contagious mnmmits'havebeen frequently described, and probably most dairy-farmers are acquainted with them, Full details arc furnished in a bulletin ona the subject (N0.!3) issued by the Department. A copy of this may be obtained free of cost on applicatum to the Editor of Publications, Department of Agriculture, -Wellington.

CROPS. PASTURES, AND STOCK.

In many districts stocks have come through the winter rjtuurkably well— very much bettor indeed than had been expected. -Sheepowners have been particularly fortunate in tho season. With a shortage of special feed the winrer was approached with considerable anxiety, bu f, the absence of rain and the comparative mildness of the winter months provided ideal conditions for sheep ; even tho usual winter morality was not oxperipneod. These avlio havo been ablo to arrange for lambing during August have been fortunate. Or. many farms strong aud thriving lambs are the rule.

Unfortunately, in sumo dairying' localities cattle have notceme to their milking season iv a condition which will enable th»m to come at once to their tull profit. In somo of these instances tho land has only recently beou bi'ought into gras3, aud did not enable tho provision of tlm essential winter food to l)omado, while in other ciwos the country is ot such a character thai cultivation is somewhat difficult. Wintev food, to maint-iin milking stock in .a profitable condition, cannot be reasonably dissociated from dairyfanning;. Fortunately, instances of failure t,o make provision for it are annually declining. The outlook generally is decidedly hopeful, while the dairy-farmer has probably never approached a season when such high values have been on offerforhis products. This is esscntially>is a time to appeal to him to do his share iv tun maintenance of a high -quality export article, by providing a clean and .sound raw product, by keeping his stock in healthy condition and by observing strict cleanliness throughout nis milking ope:ations.