FARMING NOTES

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 4, Issue 164, 6 October 1941, Page 2

FARMING NOTES

PARALYSIS IN THE COW AFTER CALVING

Paralysis in the dairy cow after calving is quite commonly seen from time to time. Paralysis is regarded more as a symptom of disease, al-

though quite frequently paralysis by itself is regarded as a disease or diseased condition. It is rare, however, to find paralysis not associated witli

some other disease or set of circumstances in which paralysis is a common or expected complication.

Thus, paralysis may be associated with an accident in which the spine or backbone is involved. Paralysis is seen as a complication of the syndrome known as milk fever, especially when the animal is in the comatose stage. It may be seen as a sequel to milk fever, in which case the

animal recovers consciousness and to all intents and purposes is normal in many rcspects, hut is unable to get up and move about. I't is frequently seen in animals in low condition due to sheer debility and weakness following upon a xjeriod of feed shortage and exposure to severe Aveather. A partial i>aralysis or inco-ordina-tion of movement is seen in many cases of poisoning, in cases of grass tetany or grass staggers, in paspalum staggers, or in numerous cases coming under the heading of malnutrition in young growing animals.

Treatment

! Where paralysis develops in the dairy cow after calving without any complications, the following line of treatment may be carried out. Any complications must first be- dealt with in order to expedite and assist recover}*. The paralysed animal should be kept dry and warm. If possible, remove it to a dry, Avarm shed, even though a sledge or large rloor is required for the removal. Plenty of straw bedding should be provided to prevent bed sores and to enable the animal to be turned from side to side at regular intervals. A laxative diet should be given, and majr include green feed or bran mashes. Forced feeding is not desirable unless the animal is very weak or emaciated, when various easity-digested but nourishing gruels may be given in this Avay.

It is a common practice to apply ft blister or liniment to the loins and back. I-f a mustard paste is used it

should be well rubbed in for several minutes; the animal is then covered and kept warm and free from draughts. Stimulants of various types arc frequently prescribed. A. common mixture is that prepared by mixing %oz of carbonate of ammonia with %oz of powdered nux vomica and dissolving the powder in a piint of cold water. This drench may be given twice daily for several days or until recovery takes place.

11l all cases it is advisable to consult your veterinary surgeon and have the animal thoroughly examined. There may be hidden injuries or fractures of bones accounting for the conditions which are not apparent to the ordinary observer. Frequently, such injuries occur at calving time, due to difficult calving, large foetus, narrow pelvis, malpresentations of various types, or unseen injuries. Good nursing is a first essential in the treatment. of uncomplicated cases of paralysis, and this applies to all classes of animals.

PROPOSED INCREASE IN CANN ING CAPACITY

Substantial increases are being made in the output of canned meat. The present capacity of the plants in the Dominion, based on an eighthour day, is 9,600 tons of canned meat, which is equivalent to 16,000 tons of boned meat. Finance has been arranged on plant ordered for the handling of a further 12,4000 tons of canned meat, Avhich is equivalent to 21,000 tons of boned meat. Thus, the total capacity of New Zealand plants will be 22,000 tons of canned meat, which is the equivalent of 37,000 tons of boned meat.

Canning plants can be operated for 10 hours daily without undue strain on the female staff. Thus, if required, the total output can be increased byi 20 per cent, bringing the total to 26,400 tons of canned meat, which is equivalent to 44,000 tons of boned meat. .

This potential capacity would be sufficient to deal with all boned cow beef, all second grade quarter beef, and 2,000,000 ewe carcases. This is above the number of ewe;: ever killed for export in one season.

If this quantity of canned meat ivere shipped in the usual way ua refrigerated cargo, it would represent 75,000 tons, and the envisaged canning programme saves refrigerated shipping and local cool storage space to that extent.

Plant lor the increased capacity should be in operation early in 1912.

USE OF MACHINERY

CLEARING OF LARGE AREAS

BULLDOZERS WORKING

Since land clearing was started in the Raetihi-Ohakune district more than 10,000 acres have been brought under cultivation. There is a further 80,000 acres which can lie cleared.

The use of machinery in stumpy areas in the past five years has resulted in much more rapid progress being made in clearing and developing the district than before. The Government placed seven bulldozers used by the Plblic Works Department at the disposal of the settlers at a charge of £2 an hour, and these until recently operated in all parts of the district. Four bulldozers are still working there.

The area cleared the machines totals 5000 acres, of which "2000 acres have been brought under cultivation. The cost of clearing the land by machines has worked out at fibout £5 an acre.

Some of the lighter stumping in the district is being done by pri-vately-owned bulldozers.

The 10,000 acres cleared also represent holdings of settlers who have been able to increase the carrying capacity of their farms by growing root crops to tide the stock over the period of late winter and early spring Avhen other feed is scarce. Large areas of root crops have been grown by farmers and arc being fed out.

EXTENSION OF HOUR

DAYLIGHT SAVING SUGGESTION

A suggestion that summer time should be extended to one hour a day as an economy measure at least during the war was made by Mr R. McKeen (Government—Wellington South) in a question addressed to the Prime Mlinister, the Rt. Hon. Fraser, in, the House of Representatives. He said electric power boards were strongly in favour of an extension, which would also benefit many industries materially.

RADIO BROADCASTS Radio broadcasts to farmers will be given from IYA Auckland at 7.15 i).m. on the following dates: October 6: "Reclamation and Grassing of Tidal Flats, Part 2," by Mr E. B. Glan.ville, Instructor in Agriculture, Auckland. October 13: "New Zealand Flora." bv Mr W. J. Fix, Apiary Instructor, Auckland. October 20: Lecture in connection with livestock, by a member of the I Livestock Division. October 27: Young Farmers' Clubs Session—Youth Movements Overseas, by Mr L. W. McCaskill, Teachers' Training College, Ghristchurch. Pig Industry Broadcasts The following programme of Radio Broadcasts will be during October under the auspices of the National Pig Industry Council:

2YH, Napier: October 9, 7.30 p.m; ''Line breeding in relation to uniform carcass," by N. Owtram, Taira\yhiti District Pig Council (Gisborne) 4YA, Dunedin: October 13, 7.15 p.m.: "'What Pig Councils are Doing,"' by N 7 . Mac Donald, Otago and Southland District Pig Council.IYA, Auckland: October 16, 7.15 p.m: "Breeding programme to suit feed supply and size of herd," by N. W. Carter, Bay of Plenty District Pig Council. 2ZA, Palmerston North: Octoberl 21, 8.30 p.m: by L.