MILK FEVER

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXI, Issue 214, 24 August 1931, Page 7

MILK FEVER

RECENT INVESTIGATIONS.

GENERAL TREATMENT OF THE TROUBLE.

With the advent of the spring and the general flush period of production, some trouble from milk fever may be expected among dairy cattle. Usually the ailment is more common among cows that are both heavy feeders and high producers than among the less productive animals. Many dairymen, with the object of preventing this trouble, make a practice of taking their cows off green feed a week or two before calving, and, in addition, see that the stock obtains plenty of exercise. A purgative three or four days before calving is given by some owners. In view, however of the recent investigations that have been made and the address delivered by Mr. Fethers, veterinary surgeon, before delegates to the veterinary conference held some time ago, it would appear as though the main cause of the trouble is a deficiency of calcium chloride in the animal shortly after calving. Some time ago a well-known stock breeder, who has a large herd of dairy cattle, stated that, despite the heavy yielding proclivities of members of his herd, he rarely, if ever, met with cases of milk fever among his stock. He attributed this to the fact that for several months prior to calving he made a practice of feeding to this herd with the general ration three ounces of bone flour at each meal. The high content of bone lime in the flour, he considered, supplied a deficiency which was much needed by the stock at the time of their coming into production.

BONE FLOUR. This statement is of interest, for there have been many instance in which animals, whilst undergoing the strain of testing and heavy lactation, have benefited from the addition of bone flour to the daily ration. Discussing the paper read by Mr. Fethers, Mr.Mornane, of the Veterinary Research Station, Parkville, said recent, ly that the new treatment adopted in the investigations outlined had been tried with excellent results in other countries. Reports from overseas had led Mr. Fethers to try out the treatment here. Ho had since reported having treated more than 80 cases without any untoward results. The treatment consists of an injection of a solution of a drug known as calcium chloride directly into the blood stream by way of the jugular vein. It has been contended that the condition known as milk fever, which, incidentally, is not a suitable name, for no fever exists, is brought about by a sudden drop in the calcium content of the blood at the tinrt of, or shortly after, calving. Thus, by injecting calcium chloride directly into the blood stream, this deficiency is counteracted. This theory has been put forward, and it would appear to be a fairly reasnable one judged by the results that have followed the treatment, but it is not claimed by the veterinary profession that all is yet known about the actual cause of milk fever. The outstanding point of interest at the present juncture is that the calcium chloride treatment is followed in practically every instance by an almost immediate recovery. It is not uncommon for an animal which is in an apparently camatose or paralysed condition to commence grazing within from three to ten minutes after the drug has been injected.

INFLATION METHOD. The common and usually effective method of inflating the udder, which has been proved so reliable and convenient to stock owners, is not con. sidered as second place to the new method. It must be pointed out that the new treatment can only be safely administered by a veterinary surgeon, as great care has to be taken in the injection of this drug into the blood stream. 'Dairymen, or rather those in districts where no veterinary services are available, must still rely on the old and well-tried inflation treatment. A feature of the calcium chloride treatment, as far as it relates to Mr. Fether’s experience to the present, is that animals recuperate rapidly, and, further, they do not show the same tendency to decreased milk flow. The old treatment to some extent injures the udder, and sometimes the quarters do not milk out as well as could be desired. Furthermore, it cannot be too strongly stressed that with the inflation method every care needs to be exercised to see that the appliance is properly sterilised. Air pumps when used carelessly may be the means of disseminating mammitis should it be present unless care is taken. There should be, consequently a thorough disinfection of the nozzle which is passed into the teats. This is essential, even when passing from one teat to another. The mammitis germ if present is in the udder itself, and, therefore, by the careless use of the pump the trouble may be passed from cow to cow. Further research work is being conducted to determine what is the primary cause of milk fever. THE SYMPTONS. The usual symptons of milk fever are that a cow shortly after calving perhaps several days, will show uneasiness, be restless on her feet, and display a tendency to bellow, whilst her eyes have a staring expression. Later she may go down, become distressed end turn her head to the flank, whilst generally tossing herself about. Since the new treatment is dependent on the services of a veterinary surgeon being available, recourse must usually be had to the inflation method. The teats should be first washed with a disinfectant, af sr which sterilised air should be pumped into the quarters through sterile coton wool. Not only should each quarter be inflated, the teat tied and massaged in turn, but every care should be taken to keep the outfit thoroughly elean in order to guard against the risks of conveying mammitis. should it be present, from one animal to an. other,