ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS

Northern Advocate, 15 July 1933, Page 15

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS

J.W., Kiripaka.—Your problem ia a difficult one. Owing, you say, to the great difficulty of getting some of your cows in calf last, season they will be calving too late this spring for you 'to get full value from them, and you ask how this can be prevented. The latest teaching of Cambridge research workers is that a cow has weak and strong heat periods and that if the cow is weakened in any way, by lack of mineral matter or coming to the season in a weak state, then weak heat periods are experienced. She will have strong heat periods as the season advances and she improves in condition. You see it is mainly a question of management. The best thing for you to do is to mate the animals towards the end of the heat period. -$> <S> <s> <s> <s>

M., Ruatangata, —The only preventive of mammitis we can suggest is to do your cows well and see that they get the mineral matter they need. Give them a little bran and a good lick. Certainly they should have all the salt and lime they need at the present time —2 of steamed bone flour and 1 of salt. Absolutely clean methods should bo adopted about the shed, allowing no dirt of any description to accumulate. Always take a few drops of milk from each teat in a special bucket before putting on the machine, and if the milk looks at all suspicious, milk the Cjow giving it last. If a quarter is seen to be affected thoroughly strip that quarter and do not allow the strippings to fall on the ground—destroy them; and strip as often as is practicable. Foment the quarter with cloths wrung out from very hot water, and rub oil well into the udder before turning the cow out.