CARE OF HEIFERS.

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20266, 7 August 1937, Page 26 (Supplement)

CARE OF HEIFERS.

YEARLINGS AND WEANERS. CAUSES OF MORTALITY. Considerable mortality occurred among yearling and wcaner heifers during the wlnlcr of 1936, states Mr D. Marshall, veterinarian, Department of Agriculture, Hamilton, In the New Zealand Journal of Agriculture. Much of the loss among yearling and wcaner heifers last year was directly or Indirectly duo to internal parasites, chiefly stomach-worm, though lungworm was troublesome In some Instances, states Mr Marshall. In the Waikato the summer was wet and this favoured the survival of a large percentage of the parasites during the period passed In the larval stages outside the host. Further, the sloppy pasture growth during a wet season Itself predisposes to a loose state of the bowels, and seems to be less suitable for young animals than the feed available in a drier season. There is an intricate relationship between tlie type of food and the presence of parasites in producing the characteristic unthriftyness, debility anaemia, and scouring usually (and in most cases rightly) put down to worms. It is not always easy to know just how much of the trouble is due to type of feed in itself and how much to the presence of parasites. Methods of Treatment. In some instances a single treatment with a reliable worm-drench checks mortality and is followed by improvement. in the remainder. At other times repeated drenching seems of little benefit unless aided by belter feeding.

The Rowett Institute has shown that 1 with young sheep some supplementary feeding greatly reduces the number of parasites that become established in the sheep. In Australia Clunies Ross has shown much the same thing and tates that In combating some of the small worms resistant to drenching most benefit comes from Improving the feed. With young cattle, observant feeders in this country have remarked on the importance of Improving the j feeding of worm-infested heifers by j orushed oats, bran and linseed-meal I and even by putting the young animals baok on a ration of milk. Routine drenching of your sheep rt acoepted as a necessity on many sheep farms. The same conditions apply to young cattle. Parasitic disease is one of the penalties to be paid for permanent pastures and heavy stocking, and must be guarded against. Drenching of young stock once mortality has commenced is sometimes disappointing In It results. Among the several reasons for this are:— (a) Treatment Is not begun until i all animals are already In an anaemlo \ state and have lost condition. (b) Insufficient attention Is paid to ] supplementing the action of the drench ] by some Improvement in feeding (com- ; plete elimination of worms, even if It i were possible, would still leave the ] animal In an anaemic, weakly state cal- , ling for nursing and tonics.) (o) Animals are returned to the j same pastures and reinfection Is constantly taking place. i Symptoms of Disease. 1 The symptoms of parasitic gastritis are unthriftiness, harsh coat, and a “skinny” appearance, weakness, 1 anaemia indicated by pallor of the lining of eyelids, etc., and nearly always 1 some degree of scouring. Somewhat ' similar symptoms are seen In “bush- 1 sick” cattle, but scouring is not a fea- 1 ture. 1 l miiiimiiiiiiimiiiiiiiimiiiiimimiiiimi i

i Indications at present point to the * coming being favourable to the development of parasitic disease and in [ view of the increase in value of dairy yearlings, care is justified to bring them through their first and most critr ical winter. If there is a choice bei tween dry, sunny faces and damp flats, » the former should be chosen as a graz- . ing area for yearlings. Heavily topdressed pastures are not ideal, but a x newly-sown paddock, being clean, i should be suitable, if the feed is not * too laxative. Ample range is always r desirable, but on smaller dairy farms I, may not be available. > Where suitable grazing areas are not I available, and particularly where 1 parasitic gastritis has been In evidence l in tjio past, drenching should be com--1 menced not later than March i and re- > peated at least once a month. In this i- way, parasites are kept in check and . It is easier to maintain condition on » such animals than to try to replace it In one enfeebled and anaemic through parasites. Remedies for Worms. A suitable worm remedy is the bluestone and nicotine used for sheep. If this Is mixed at the rate of two ounces of bluestone and two ounces of 40 per cent nicotine sulphate to one gallon of water, six to eight months calves may be given four ounces, increasing gradually to six ounces at a year old. It may bo found that a few yearlings i will’be made slaggcry and will go * down, hut these will recover in a few r minifies. Tf this, happens, the amount t of drench may be slightly reduced. No preliminary fasting Is necessary, but it i is desirable to yard the animals for r two hours beforehand and to keep . them from water for one hour after drenching. In addition to routine drenching. . feeding must he adequate. Good hay i should be available from the end of [ April. A small amount of concena trated food, such as crushed oats and . bran, with a little linseed meal, or 1 meat meal, will be helpful in July, 9 usually the hardest month, t Shelter Is highly -Important: An 9 open fronted shed or access to a good 3 haystack, will at least give warmer a sleeping quarters If good hedges are not available. In ridgy country, the lie - of the ground may give a certain . amount of shelter from prevailing -> winds. i No mention Is made here of treati ment of lung-worm, but the same > general control measures are beneficial ,• in combatting these. Drenching, while , of almost no value against, lung-worm, » should not be neglected as very often, though lung-worms are present and the frequent cough due to them Is in evidence, the stomach worms are the real offenders.