Milk Fever In Northland Herds

Northern Advocate, 16 August 1940, Page 7

Milk Fever In Northland Herds

Having experienced the most favourable winter for many years, Northland dairy stock are coming into profit in splendid condition. What health problems arc arising are of plenty rather than of scarcity. It has come under the notice of the Department of Agriculture that more cases of milk fever and other similar complaints are occurring than for many years past, the veterinarian for Northland (Mr T. H. Hank in) said today. Unfamiliar With Disease. Many farmers in Northland are unlamiliar with this disease, although in the Waikato familiarity has bred contempt, and milk fever is not dreaded. For the information of farmers, Mr Hank in says, it should be known that cows affected are usually in good condition and are high producers. The disease is generally associated with calving, and the name “milk fever” itself is really a misnomer, as the animals have a temperature lower than normal and the secretion of milk is scanty. The disease is primarily due to a temporary deficiency of calcium in the blood, caused by certain glands not functioning properly. After Calving. Commonest period of attack is within 24 to 48 hours after calving, but in some instances cows go down before they have calved. The first symptom noticed is a staggering gait, the cow appearing as if unable to control her limbs, and sooner or later she goes down, is unable to rise, and ultimately becomes unconscious. It is well known that an unconscious person should not have fluid poured down the throat, and this applies also to cattle, as there is every possibility when animals arc unconscious or semiconscious. that pari of the fluid poured down the throat will enter the lungs, giving rise to pneumonia. Therefore, if a fanner suspects that a cow has milk fever, he should not administer a drench. Drenching Harmful. In places where milk fever is not generally recognised the first thing a farmer does when, at the calving period. he finds a cow prostrate on the ground, is to rush for some medicine for internal administration to her. This is absolutely a wrong practice. The old treatment for milk fever is to inflate the udder with air, and, under ordinary farm conditions, this is still the most satisfactory procedure, although injections of various calcium preparations give good results. Any apparatus that is capable of pumping air into the udder can be used, but it is essential that no germs be introduced into the udder, as in such cases the cow. in all probability, will develop mammitis. The patient should have any milk in the udder stripped out and, for convenience, be placed on her side. Thorough Washing. The udder is then thoroughly washed with warm water, soap and disinfectant. Tne milk syphon (in case of emergency the inner valve of a bicycle tube, with the rubber removed, can be used as a milking tube.) is boiled for a few minutes in a small pan of water and. while still in the water, is taken to the cow. Each quarter is then blown up with air fairly tightly until the udder is fully distended, and each teat tied with a soft rag. The cow should then be propped up on her brisket with bags of straw or earth, her head facing uphill if anything, and the whole body covered wi'tn sacks, hay. etc., to raise, the temperature. The animal should respond within an hour or so and, if not recovered within four hours’ time, the inflation should be repeated.

Apt to Recur

Taken in time, milk fever is rarely fatal, but if the animal is not discovered early, serious complications arise very easily. It is to be remembered that recovery from one attack may bo followed by another one, so that farmers are advised strongly to watch carefully highproducing cows from calving time until about three days later.