MORTALITY ON FARMS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23487, 26 October 1939, Page 13

MORTALITY ON FARMS

THE RANGITAIKI PLAINS DAIRY HERDS AFFECTED [my TF.LKCHAPir —OWN' COJUIESI'OXDENT] WHAKATANE, Wednesday Many farmers 011 the Bangitaiki Plains are experiencing severe losses'by bloating among dairy herds. Losses have exceeded 10 per cent in some cases and one farmer with a herd of about <lO cows lost four in one week. Some farmers have been hplding cows in bare paddocks and feeding them with cut and dried grasses. Sodiifm bicarbonate and vegetable turpentine arc recommended as the most reliable remedies. Although some farmers use kerosene its- effects are thought to be too severe. In spite of the losses production seems to be keeping up well, for many of the lost cows are the weaker and less efficient ones. The Bangitaiki Plains Dairy Company is now averaging about tons daily, this being about two tons below the exceptionally good year of 1937. Mr. J. Rutherford, tho factory manager, states that the season may turn out almost as well as that year, as he believes that the supply will bo maintained better at the close.