LUNGWORM IN CALVES

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 6, Issue 261, 23 March 1917, Page 4

LUNGWORM IN CALVES

The following query and reply appeared in the last issue of the " Journal of Agriculture " viz. G. A. Edge, Paparata, writes : "I shall be glad if you will kindly inform me of the cause, remedy, &c., in the following case l : Several of our calves died within a few weeks After skinning one we hung it up by the hind legs, and after cutting off its head we noticed a small handfull of worms drop on the ground out of the windpipe. Later we found a big fine heifer calf dead, so we eut open her windpipe and found a large quantity of long fine white worms right along the windpipe from the throat right into the lungs. We examined the animal throughout, and everything else seemed to be perfectly healthy. We therefore came to the conclusion that the worms had choked her."

The Live-stock Division reply is:— " Lungworm, as the name implies, is due to the entrance into the respiratory passages of minute worms, scientifically named Strongylus micrurus. The eggs of the worm are taken in with the food and hatch out, the embyros finally obtaining access to the lungs. Treatment by medicinal remedies is of no avail. The only treatment of any service in such cases is to endeavour to improve the condition of the animal attacked, and thus render it more resitant to the inroads of the parasite. For this purpose nothing is better than a daily supply of crushed oats and linseed cake, allowing about c half a pound of each per day to each of the calves. A salt-lick is also a good provision to make. The paddocks used should bo well drained, and those which are likely to have been contaminated by discharges from the affected calves should receive a topdressing of lime."