A FARMING PROBLEM

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4817, 31 July 1939, Page 8

A FARMING PROBLEM

OVERCOMING SCOURS. The greatest trouble in rearing calves is "scours." The trouble arises from disturbance in the digestive tract. A calf showing signs of scouring should miss a feed and then be put on to half the usual quantity of milk diluted with an equal amount of warm water. Cases of simple scouring can generally be cured by the addition of a dessertspoonful of castor oil to the milk. The bucket-fed calf tends to drink milk too rapidly and as a result the milk forms a hard indigestible curd. It is a good plan to confine the calves to bails while drinking and give the milk a little at a time. Confinement for five or ten minutes after the feed is over is a good thing as calves are then less likely to suck each others' ears or udders and thereby be troubled with hair balls in the gut. Lime water is a valuable aid , to digestion as it softens hard indigestible curds, which may be formed in the stomach by too hasty drinking. To make lime water, place a lump of unslaked lime about the size of an egg in the bottom of a bucket and add a small amount of water, stirring into a paste. Add two gallons of water, stir vigorously and allow the suspension to settle. Use the clear solution only at the rate of a tablespoonful to one pint per feed depending on the age of the calf.