INQUIRIES ANSWERED.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 211, 7 September 1927, Page 21

INQUIRIES ANSWERED.

Pigs and Pneumonia: '1 wish you would tell me why it ia that I am having a great deal of trouble with my pigs from pneumonia? My pig stye and yards have been in use for some time, but they are pretty dry and there is fair shelter. .1 should like to know what to dot My pigs are well bred, so it is a serious loss to lose any of them.* (N Rd.).—Your letter does not provide much information on the conditions under which the pigs are kept, so it may be assumed that the piggery is of the usual description and is not open to question, but that the prevalence of pneumonia in swine is due to the absence of sanitary precautions. Pneumonia is a disease that is associated with damp and ill-ventilated and unclean conditions of living. It is very usual to find that the pig quarters are wet, the sty is not weather proof, or if it is the ventilation has not been provided and the cleaning of buildings and yards is not attended to. Let it be remembered that old unclean buildings and long occupied yards provide that harbour for the germs of pneumonia. Animals that are forced to live under the conditions that have been mentioned suffer, and further, the pig is not any more predisposed to the attack of this disease than is any other of the domestic animal of the farm. It may be that the buildings and the site are suitable for improvement. If so, roofs, floors and ventilation should receive attention and the drainage should be assured to be efficient. If the yards are worked over, dug or ploughed and afterwards allowed to remain unused, it will go a long way towards the assurance of the well-being of the herd. It should not be forgotten that the liberal use of freshly burned lime in the buildinge and the yards should not be omitted. Pneumonia is prevented by good sanitation. There is not a practical cure when once the animal is affected.

Definition of Terms Applied to Crossbred Sheep: "Will you kindly eiv?a definition of a halfb'red, a cro»l££ I thjee-quarter, and a comeback sheep? At the same tune please state what the progeny of a Southdown no and a fine Romney-cross ewe would be classed as, also Kyeland-Romney cross?" (A.S.H.)— Definitions of the various terms that •re employed to indicate animals that are the result of cross mating are decidedly difficult to set out. This will be recognised when it is recorded that then

is a legal decision in New Zealand to the effect that a halfbred sheep is not a crossbred, but there does not appear to be a decision as to what the sheep actually is. It is generally recognised that custom rules. The halfbred is the progeny of two different pure breeds. It is also a crossbred, but that term includes all sheep that are the progeny of cross mating. The progeny of a halfbred ewe from a long-woolled ram Iβ by custom designated a three-quarter-bred. That ia, it is three-fourths long wool to one-fourth Merino. The comeback is the progeny of the Merino ram on the ewe that is a crossbred of longwool-Merino descent. This is probably the customary acceptance of the terms. It is probably better to recognise that these terms afford the opportunity of endless discussions. The obvious designation of the Southdown and of the other sheep is simply that of crossbreds. This can t>e qualified by the inclusion of the name of the breed of the ram and the ewe.

The Speyiog or naiesiac of Sow Pigs: "This was the regular practice in Great Britain some years ago, at least, it is understood that it was. Please advise if it waa useful, and could it be arranged to have it done here!" (WJ , .).—lf sow nigs were unsexed, as they were in the 'seventies and 'eighties, a much larger profit would be ensured on the fat pigs; they would make better and quicker pork, which would be more reliable for keeping when made into bacon. Years ago the veterinary practitioners used to look to the returns from cutting pigs as a help to their profession, the charge generally made being a flat rate of 3d each for boars and sows, and 6d for sow pigs. Unregistered cutters often did the work in competition for 2d each. The operation was simple, and apparently was leu painful in the case of sow pigs, at they were quietest under it. A good speyer or cutter would do them in from to to 2} minutes, and the death rate was not 1 per cent About two sow pigs in 60 had their ears notched, and were run on for breeding purposes. There is no aoubt that the speying eould be arranged. A letter to the Director of the lave Stock Division of the Department of Agriculture, Wellington, would elicit the information.

Book on Horseshoeing. "Would yon be land enough to tell me where I can obtain a book on honeahoeing? I might say I have had a little experience a few yean ago, and would like to get a book to freshen up thing*. The blacksmiths in this district charge 14/6 for a milkcarter, and I think by shoeing my own hones I would save several pounds during the year." (R.S.G.).—The book most need by veterinary surgeons is "The Art of Horseshoeing," by William Hunting, I/m>* don. This book is probably to be bought at the large booksellen , shops. It » only a small book, and is written i« very simple language.

Complication* After Distemper: "I would be pleased if you could give me any information on the following subject. Our sheep dog, aged 3} years, has just recovered from distemper, but is unable to stand still, and staggers about hopelessly. This, I believe, is due to the spine being affected. Is there any cure for this? If so, could you please let me know what to do, as we are most anxious not to lose the dogf (W.P.).— It appears to me to be a hopeless case, and would better be destroyed. There is no cure after they get as bad as this, and should improvement follow few ever completely recover, as they are usually left permanent nervous wrecks.

To Dehorn Calves: 1 am deciding to dehorn my calves this spring, and 1 shall be much obliged if you would tell me the best way! (Dehorning).—The method of dehorning young calves ia simple and easily carried out. It should be performed when the calf is from two to seven days old, and may be briefly described as follows: —First clip the hair from around the budding horns, the tips of which should then be slightly moistened, care being taken to avoid wetting the surrounding skin. Then rub the tip of each horn firmly with a stick of caustic potash until a light impression has been made on the centre of the horn. This can generally be done in less than half a minute. The horns should be treated in this manner from two to four times, according to the size of the horn and the age of the animal. About five minutes should elapse between each application. If, during the interval of five minutes after one or more applications, a little blood appears in the centre of the horn, it will then be necessary to give only a further very slight rubbing with the potash. In some cases the calf may show signs of acute- pain after treatment. This can be relieved without lessening the success of the operation by applying, with a small brush or sponge, a solution of chloral hydrate in water. This solution, together with the caustic potasfi, could be obtained ready for use from a chemist. The following points should be carefully noted:-Roll a piece of strong paper round one ie«l of thejjuash stick to prevent the e»8*» ininrwl Do not moisten the horn too Se caustic will spre-dtoUje surrounding slrin and destroy the flesh. To prevent injury to die surrounding skin a piec of thin crd-board, with a hole cut in the centre to permit of its beine pl«ced over the horn, should be used when the caustic is beinj applied, and the calf abonld be kept from getting wet for some days after the operation. Bβ very careful to rub on the centre of the horn, and not round the sides of it. The operation should not be attempted if the calf is more than nine davs old. One man should hold the calf while an assistant uses the caustic.