LOSSES IN DAIRY HERDS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22215, 16 September 1935, Page 10

LOSSES IN DAIRY HERDS

CONCERN AMONG FARMERS MORTALITY IN THE WAIKATO [bt TELEGRAPH —OWN CORRESPONDENT] MATAMATA, Sunday Serious losses among dairy herds in the district are causing concern among farmers, some of whom have lost as many as 15 to 20 cows, and losses of five or six out of one herd are common. The malady is not confined to any one locality, cattle at widely-separated points being affected. Animals become affected without any prior symptoms, and in many cases drop in the bails at milking time. DUE TO FEED VARIATIONS VETERINARY OFFICER'S VIEW Commenting on the mortality among dairy cows in the Waikato, Mr. T. A. Blake, Government veterinary officer at Hamilton, stated that the situation was that although no more deaths than usual had occurred, they had been concentrated in a shorter period, which gave the impression of an aggravated situation. In the Matamata area there had been no unusual amount of mortality, but around Waitoa it had been more noticeable. The chief causes of death throughout had been milk.fever and grass staggers, duo to unusual variation in the amount of feed, a summer drought being followed by an abnormal autumn flush and that by another shortage during the winter.