THE FARM.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 4, Issue 98, 20 October 1915, Page 4

THE FARM.

Bloat in Cattle.

Some Simple Remedies.

With access to generous supplies | of green fodder, there is a not unnatural tendency in cattle to become bloated. At the present time, following the bard conditions of the first half of the year, cattle, in a majority of coses, are only beginning to regain a healthy standard. With weak animals, especially, there is a grave risk in allowing too much ireeoom in eating succulent lodder. Mr H. ti. Alexander, in the "Irrigation Kecord," furnishes seme opportune advice as regards the treatment of "blown" cattle. Since it is a trouble that may result in death if the animals are neglected, the following bints should prove helpful to many stock owneis:— "I have dealt with cases," Mr Alexander states, "where cattle persistently given to bloat have been cured by a system 01 drenching with Glauber salts—that is, say, a drench of a pound of salts given one morning, followed up two days hence with another drench, an ounce of ground ginger being applied to each dose. When this has beien done I have known cows to feed on lucerne with no bad results at all stages ot its growth, ehowlag no sigrs or bloat, when previous to drenching they were persistently bloating.

"As a means of preventing a cow tating ton ravenously, I bave known dairymen to aiopt a sysum ot putting bits in ths cow's moatb. Thtse bits were be Id by a cheap form of beadstfll, made on the farm, either from bide, top; or 1 athtr, as the fanner's Eupplits of material warranted, By having a bit in the mouth tbe cow cannot eat her food quickly, aid it also tends to make her keep h;r tongue working. This seems to have an effect on tbe valves. leading from the mouth to the tbroat and paunch, and by these valves working gas escapes, preventing the distension of tbe rumen. Even given all these precautions, occasion will arise when cattle eo treated and lucked after will still bloat. It is then advisable fur the farmer when he anticipates that he may have troulb of this kind to be prepared for any evrntuality. "While it is not recognis d by veterinary officers as a remedy, and it cannot be called a remedy, still a small application cf Stockh iim tar to tie root of the cow's tonguj causes the animal such apparent discomfort that Bbe persistently tries to lid herself cf this objectionably flavoured stuff, the result b ing that she at the same time relieves herself of much of the gas generating from the lucerne ur chver or whatever she fed upon to cause the trouble. Ibis Stockholm tar can always v be handy*to the dangerous paddocks, and tha best means of applying it to a cow is per medium of a stick, to the end of which is tied some cloth in the bucket of tar and pushed well into the cow's mouth. There is nothing else that I know of that can be applied eo rapidly to a number of cows affected with bloat at the one time as Stockholm tar, and in eight cases out of ten it will be found that the tar will effect a cure.

"Another remedy that has a quick effect on a hoven cow is small doses of turpentine, given to the animal per medium of raw linseed oil (oae pint cf raw linseed oil and 2oz of turps.). This necessitates time to bait up or bold the animal; also to mix tbe drench. This cure is only recommended when Stockholm tar is not available, or when it may have been tried and failed to do tbe work required. Drenches of baking soda will also be found effective in many cases.

"If one or two cows only are affected, and the cow can be conveniently caught, tbe probang is a most useful means of relieving the animal of any gas generated in her paunch. The probang is simply a leather tube capable if being pushed through tbe mouth down the throat into tbe oaunch It is fitted with a rod to keep the centre of the tube tree for the escape of gas. The probang gives practically instantaneous relief, and is certainly recommended for trial before having resort to the trocar. Tbe use of trocar is recommended as a last resouru?, or in all cases where a large number of cattle Have developed bloat at one * time. Tbe trocar, as everyone knows, is an instrument made for penetrating the cow's paunch from tbe side of tbe animal.

"A good clean knife will be found to be very serviceable as a means of tapping the pauncb. In some instances 1 bave seen cows generate gas so rapidly that it has been necessary to open the side and remove a considerable portion of the food from tbe pauncb. When this is done it is advisable to apply stitches both to the paunch and the side of the animal, and, care being taken, there is no reason why an operation of this kind should not be a success, provided always such cutting about is done with a reasonable amount of care, knowledge and cleanliness. In cases where many cattle are down at one time, no hesitation whatever should be shown in using the knife as already stated. In fact, for quick this is tbe method of treatment that id readily available in extreme ard numerous caser, but, as already advised, if it is possible to cure animals without cutting tbe tide then every effort should be made to do so. The proper place to puncture a cow is on the left side at a spot equidista r t between the last rib and the hip bone, a point which is easily seen when the animal is badly distended with gas, as it is tbe most prominent part of the swelling."