MAMMITIS IN DAIRY HERDS

Hawera Star, Volume LI, 24 May 1932, Page 5

MAMMITIS IN DAIRY HERDS

LECTURE AT TOKAOKA. There was a fair attendance of farmers of the Tokaora district at tiie hall last night to hear an address on “Mammitis’> by Mr. Hill Motion, of New Plymouth. Mr. H. Thrush, president of the Tokaora branch of the Farmers’ Union, was in the chair and gave Mr. Hill Motion a cordial welcome, expressing the pleasure the farmers felt in getting information on subjects of such importance as the diseases of dairy stock, one of the most prevalent of which was mammitis. Mr, Hill Motion, who has had practical dairying experience, spoke of the various phases of the disease, its incidence and the best means that could be devised to prevents its spread in the herds of the district. His address was mainly on the lines he has taken at other places where he has spoken and he concluded by giving an interesting description of vaccines, living. and dead, and of serums, giving his opinion that the serum appeared to him to be the most effective remedy to ward off as far as 'possible the serious effects of mammitis. . In reply to a question Mr. Hill Mo-* tion urged farmers to be careful in the use of their machines, recognising the liability of the cow’s teats to injury and the need of cutting down the puLsator as much as possible. , . . , Mr. H- J. Finlay confirmed this by the result of some interesting; and useful experiments he had made with a view to avoid bruising the udders of the cows and to secure also economy in working. These, he said, had resulted in effectively minimising the incidence of mammitis. The lecturer advised, in regard to drying off cows, extending the interval between milkings, rather than stopping the milk suddenly. * He also urrred the value of careful massage after milking and stripping, m the case of a hard quarter. He believed a large proportion of the herds were affected with mammitis and farmers must endeavour to | build up a resistance to the disease in their dairy animals. Acknowledging a vote of thanks, tne lecturer said he had hoped to show a series of slides which would give more information on the disease. lie assured the gatnermg that he was ft al times anxious to help farmers m everv way possible and added, tnat scientists, field workers and chemists were all striving to help to improve the daily “conduct” of the milking herd.