DISEASES OF CATTLE.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 143473, 21 April 1911, Page 8

DISEASES OF CATTLE.

MAJOR YOUNG AT OKATO.

Under the control of tbo Taranaki Agricultural Society a lecture was given in the Hall on .Monday night Dy -uajor young, M.K.C.V.S., Government Veterinarian. There was a very lair attendance, and Mr. \V. J. Gray was voted to tlie chair. It is not oiteu that Oka to lias the lortimu to listen to such a useful amf interesting address from a man in tho position 01 Minor Young, and lie had die whole attention of Ins audience from start to finish. The lecture, which was more of a quiet talk on the injuries and diseases to which animals arc subject, was delivered in the simplest possible manner and illustrated by diagrams of the subjects that wero being explained. Commencing with tho horses, Major Young started with its teeth, and, running over tho more common complaints, explained the different symptoms and the simplest and best remedies. While talking about strangles the Major said ho would like to see this complaint classed as contagious and an Act passed forbidding-horses with strangles to be placed in any livery stables or make use of any public drinking trough. Another point no impressed upon farmers, especially those who go in for horsebreeding, was the necessity of selecting the best sires. He suggested that all stallions used for stud purposes should bo inspected and certificates or licenses granted only to those which were physically sound. He pointed out that this system was in vogue in nearly all the Australian States, and they were forbidding horses to land which could not pass this inspection. Consequently all the entire horses.that were being sent from Now Zealand to Australia were of the best, and the faulty ones were being left behind. Passing from the horse, he went on to the invariable cow, but lor want of time only took the'chief ailments which atlect her. With a diagram of a cow's udder and teats, cut right through, he explained the symptoms of contagious mammitis in a maimer which even a child could have understood, from the time it first attacked tho cow until it either recovered or succumbed to tho disease. Ho pointed out that with this complaint prevention was ever so much better than cure, and said that if dairymen, and especially machine milkers, would universally adopt a thorough system of cleanliness and disinfection, tho loss from mammitis would bo practically nil. He was not inclined to think this disease was so bad as some of the other members of his department, but it undoubtedly cost the farmers hundreds of pounds every year. No better remedy had yet been found .than an injection of a borax solution. Passing on to abortion, ho was pleased to say it was on the decrease. Some one had informed him that quite 30 per cent, of the cows in Taranaki suffered from this complaint, but by calculating the number of calves'inoculated and slaughtered and allowing a small percentage of barren cows and those which bad been' running with sterile bulls ho found it only possible that about 5 per cent, of cows could be Troubled with abortion. Ho considered that the Stock Department deserved credit for tho way they had tackled blackleg in calves. Altogether in Taranaki about 64,000 waives bad boon inoculated this year, and only about forty deaths had boon recorded, which was not as many as died on one farm in OUato when the disease first made its appearance hero.

At the conclusion of tho address the 1 lecturer invited questions from those present who wished to-know anything ho had not touched upon.' Several questions were asked and answered, not in monosyllables, ‘ but in a rational and explanatory way that was much appreciated. For milk fever nothing had been found better than sterilised air, but most cases of so-called milk fever were practically blood-poisoning caused by the cow not cleansing properly. Asked liis opinion on pasteurising milk, he said it, was out of his department, but his own opinion was that it was undoubtedly better than the present methods.

Major Young stated that most horses suffer more or less from hots, and the best remedy was chloroform and physic. At the close Mr. Andrews proposed a vote of , thanks to Major Y'oung for his able and instructive-address, which was carried unanimously. Major Young thanked the chair, ami "Mr, Gray thanked Mr. Cliff, on behalf of the Taranaki Agricultural Society, for arranging tlie meeting, and Mr. Hunter proposed that the meeting express its thanks through Mr. Cliff to the society. Mr. Cliff in responding pointed out that the society was primarily for tho benefit of farmers, and asked those who were not- already members to join at once and help the society as much as possible. Tlie greater part of those present were already members, so very few new members were enrolled.