FARMERS’ UNION.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 28 July 1924, Page 4

FARMERS’ UNION.

LECTURE BY MR. G. FORD AT KAKARAMEAy(Fronr Our Own .Correspondent.) On Wednesday night .last, under the auspices of the above branch of the Farmers ’ - Union, Mr. Ford-gave a most instructive lecture on various ailments of dairy stock, but principally - those pertaining to the calving period. Dealing with the terrible scourage of abortion, he said it might be due to a variety of causes, such as infection, improper feed, damaged feed, etc. Mr. Ford does not consider contagion is so much the cause of abortion,, as is generally supposed. In many cases it may be traced to indifferent .nutrition of the animal in its early .days, and again owing to the deterioration of our soil much may be wanting in the pastures that'is necessary to the building up of constitution. Cows with impaired constitution cannot stand up to the strain of calf’ producing and milking, - with the result that disease germs find a ready foothold in their weakened bodies. The feeding of even the best of hay without any additional ration is not to be commended for dairy stock, and may be the cause of trouble. Hay, moreover, frequently is not in the best of condition. The dairy cow is a milk-making machine. She is a manufacturer of crude material into that ideal food for liumans —milk. Unless the proper material is" supplied to her for the manufacturing process, namely, a well-balanced ration, it is ridiculous to suppose that she can produce the goods. When something :is wanting in the ration she at first makes up the deficiency from her own body; but this. cannot continue without impaired vitality and weakening-of her resistance to disease. . For a month prior to calving it is necessary that the cow be supplied with some succulent food, so that there may lie no constipation during the period of parturition. Salts or other .laxatives ought to be given 24 hour s prior to calving. Mr. Ford does not recommend drenching after calving. Retained after-birth may be due -to.a number of causes, but is principally owing to want of stamina in the animal, loss of tone, and consequently insufficient force to expel the after-birth. The . after-birth should not he allowed to remain longer than 12 to 14 hours, and then only if kept clean and healthv by irrigation. Washing of the hindquarters of the cow a fortnight before and after calv--ing aids largely in preventing mammitis. The trouble, as most authorities agree, come s from outside, and is admitted to the udder through the teat Many disease germs undoubtedly accumulate in the dirty matter which adheres to the hindquarters after calving, and these are continually switched roan d the teatg and udder by the tail. The best treatment for udder troubles , ,°k wa tor bathings and fomentations Udder troubles may also be due to indigestion, cold, sudden change of feed etc. The cow should not be fed too abundantly just after calving. t Mr. emphasised the fact that run animals” appear to he immune trom these diseases that affect dairy stock, and'pointed out that this may he held as proof of his contention that much of the dairy cou’\s troubles may he due to faulty nutrition during the hand-fed calf period. Mr.. Ford also gave many useful prescriptions and remedies. ' At the close of the address a light supper was handed round, and during this interval many and varied questions were fired at the popular lecturer, all of which were replied to with his customary good humour. Mr. D Chamberlain thanked Mr. rord oil bolialf of tho audience for his very interesting, instructive, and able address. ;