LOSSES AT LAMBING.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 16, 31 October 1935, Page 8

LOSSES AT LAMBING.

REDUCING THE MORTALITY.

BEEF AND DAIRY CATTLE, Losses at lambing time can only be minimised where unusual care in shepherding is given, and with young ewes, especially, where penning those which show signs of deserting their lambs is undertaken. A wire-netting pen, large enough to hold a ewe and her lamb, does not take much time or trouble to erect, and a few of these about the lambing paddocks will .save many lambs. ‘

Where it is determined to hand-rear any motherless and twin lambs, it should be remembered that slightly richer milk than, the ordinary dairy cow’s whole milk is required. Some cream may be added, or a tablespoonful of jelly, formed by boiling linseed meal for half an hour, may be added. If the hand-reared lambs show signs of scouring, add a small quantity ofeither baker’s flour or cornflour to the milk. ••

The weather for docking should be carefullv chosen if, losses are to be

avoided. The ewes and- their lambs should bo mustered as early as possible in the morning of a, fine' day, and ! the doeking completed l by mid-day. Ihe ewes and lambs should he hack ill their paddocks early in the afternoon to allow plenty of time for mothering-up If the docking is carried; on until too late in the day, and especially if the weather is cold or wet, the lambs which are listless after the - operation. ’ will make no effort- to find their mothefs. Ewes with blackface 1 lambs should' he on dry, sunny paddocks at this season, and the grass shoulil he growing,’ but short. Dry camps khd shelter are imperative if rapid growth and fattening are desired, and a change to fresh quarters will help materially in keepjing the youngsters healthy and growing. A salt lick containing limonite, and either steamed bond flour, or fine ground Nauru rock phosphate, should he available. If any deaths from “puljpy kidney” occur among the most forward lambs, yard the sheep for a night arid either drench the lambs with Epsom salts or add this to the drinking ■water in the troughs. I ‘ l The beef breeds .of station cattle will now be calving, and though little trouble is generally experienced with them some attention should'ho paid to heifers coming to their first calf. There should be no steers running with the breeding cows at this season, arid the latter should be given the mast sheltered grazing available. Fallacy of Working Wet Soil.

Owing to .the heavy and widespread rains, winter fallowed- or turnip lands •are not yet generally in a condition for ■working or sowing. It- is worse than [useless to cultivate pr sow down, wet ■and sodden land, hut duiing October conditions should be satisfactory for isowing both green crops and grass, states the “New Zealand, Herald.” The soil must be in just the right.friable■ condition for the bestfiresults to be 'secured, and the farmer should watch carefully for this psychological moment. | ' Dairy cows, contrary to general practice, should he given plenty of rough*; age. at this season. The cow’s anatomy is designed to cope with a large bulk of fodder of comparatively low nutritive value, and if -she lis offered .no choice but yery . highly;, concentratedfood in the form of young, quicklygrowing grass, digestive and. milk disorders, will result. Good hay,, ensilage or a daily turn on rough, coarse feed will keep the cows healthy and fully productive. ■«>.. • • •'■ . Some care should be exercised in selecting right paddocks- Tor the dairy cows during early- spring. If they are. exposed to cold winds and the animals must perforce lie on wet ground, hardiquarters and lung troubles, are almost sure to result. Dry camps for the .cows' are particularly important during- the, first month of the milking season, as.it; is then when the udders are slightly in-; flamed, from renewed bulk secretion f that chills causing “hard-quarters” are most likely' to be contracted. • ■ " \ .... Herd Replacements. 1 Calves. to be held for herd replacements deserve good feeding if they are [are to make up into good cows. Especially is this so during their very early daysfi Feed them liberally with new milk for a start,, and -when the time comes to put them on to skim milk add boiled linseed jelly,ol*.fish oil to their ration. An addition to skim which I have found-most satisfactory is made as follows: Itoil lib of linseed meal for half an hour in two gallons ,of water, stirring to keep it from, singeing. When cool, add arid stir in one tablespoonful of dairy salt and one breakfastcupful of flour. Feed at.the rate of one hreakfastcupful per meal (night and morning) this is sufficient for one calf for a week. A cupful of oatmeal' added fit the linseed meal and boiled with it improves this valuable addition to skim milk.