MINERAL MATTER FOR DAIRY COWS

Shannon News, 18 January 1929, Page 3

MINERAL MATTER FOR DAIRY COWS

A VITAL NECESSITY. In the Australian publication known as The Jersey Cow. Mr. R. Wightman discusses "Mineral Mutter, and the Feeding of Dairy Cows." He relates that when a plant is burnt, asli is left which contains potash, soda, lime, magnesia, oxide of iron, phosphoric and sulphuric acids, chlorine, iodine, etc. On burning an animal body a similar ash is left, containing the elements noted above and being particularly rich in phosphoric acid and lime. It has long been realised that these substances are not only important, but vitally necessary, adds Mr. Wightman. The animal needs t.he mineral matter in the plant to build up its 'none—-bone consisting largely of phosphate of lime —and also in connection with the jilcod stream, gland secretion, and in fact all vital functions. Although the importance,,, of the mineral matter in the food has long been realised, it has been generally supposed that under ordinary farm conditions the animal would obtain more than enough to satisfy its requirements. This supposition was probably correct for the systo.in of farming in course when the science of feeding was first seriously investigated by Kellner twenty-five years ago, stales a writer in "The Live Stock Journal," (England).

In the case of dairy cows there' is less likelihood of mineral deficiency becoming serious than with pigs; although heavy milking cows and -cat-tie kept indoors throughout the winter may' not be able to obtain their requirements. Pasture grass on land not exceptionally acid is well supplied with lime, and there is little likelihood of shortage during the summer

grazing period. Good mea’dow hay contains 1 per cent, of lime, and 4 per cent, phosphoric acid; good clover hay still richer. Thus 16lbs. of meadow li-ay—a Usual ration for an Scvvt. Jersey cow—would contain .16-of lime and .0641 b. of phosphoric acid. The experiments of Kellner show that an Bcwt. dairy cow requires .3001 b. of lime and .051 of phosphoric acid tor maintenance, while for the production of each gallon 1 of milk approximately ,0451 b. of lime and .0371b/’ of phosphoric acid are required. A normal production ration for a cow yielding two gallons of milk per day might be made up as follows: — Decorticated cotton cake, .1 part; linseed cqke, 1 part; rice meal, 2 parts; ipaize gluten feed, 2 .parts, and palm kernel cake, 1 part. Fed at the rate of 311 b. per gallon. Such a ration is approximately correct from the point-or view of iigestiblc protein and sHrch equivalent, and las been extensively used. It would supply .0071 b. of lime and .0611 b. of phosphoric acid in each gallon ration, spoonful of brandy to a tumblerful of milk —every quarter of an hour.

When the collapse symptoms began to pass off, then attend to the burn. Wo will suppose that the arm is badly burned. Cut away or remove any clothing with the greatest care, to prevent breaking any blisters which niay have formed. Then lay strip, after strip saturated with picric acid (one per cent solution) on ,the injured part and cover with cotton wool. Cut the strips about two inches wide and as long as ’ accessary. ' When redressing the burn, renew the strips one at a time; in this way the burn is exposed to the air as little as possible. Blisters may be pricked at the base to allow the fluid out of them, and then left to protect the tender skin underneath. Should the flesh be charred and have to be washed, add four teaspoonfuls of bicarbonate oi soda to a quart of water and bathe gently.

The same principle of excluding the air applies to what I call “kitchen burns”; these are very painful, though not so serious. Hastily cover with a piece of lint or rag spread with butter ot any oil, or a paste made of bicarbonate of soda. If there are children in the house it is always wise to keep a bottle of carron oil, which is excellent for burns. It takes away the pain in a Avonderful way and can be more quickly applied than the other remedies.

Cuts are also what one might term everyday accidents, and in dealing with them there are three-things to bear in mind—cleaning the wound, stopping the bleeding, and ensuring against an unsightly scar when healed. To clean the wound bathe in water with, a few drops of some good antiseptic in it. If the cut is very dirty do not try to stop the bleeding too soon as some of the dirt will be carried away with the blood, and make quite certain that the wound is really clean before attempting to bind it up. Very hot or cold water both tend to stop bleeding, as does also exposure to the air.

Persistent bleeding must, of course, be stopped, and you may bo able to effect this bj r pressure on the wound and on the different veins and arteries flowing to and from it. But should this treatment prove ineffectual—and particularly if bright red blood is pumping out freely from the wound—summon a doctor as soon as possible. If dealing with a jagged cut, which is likely to cause a disfiguring scar, and are unable to obtain medical aid, draAV the edges of the wound together with narroAv strips of plaster, cov r with gauze or lint soaked with tincture of iodine, and bandage tightly. If fairly comfortable do not disturb this first dressing for two days and then bathe the lint off very carefully and do up again with dry lint. On no account give any alcoholic stimulant when there is excessive bleeding, as by doing so the heart’s action is increased and the bleeding on-

couraged. A cup of coffee, howeyer, may safely be given. . With bad cute, as with burns, one nearly always gets accompanying shock or collapse of the patient. Always lay the patient flat and" elevate the injured limb.