LIVE STOCK AND THE FARM

Southland Times, Issue 21431, 27 June 1931, Page 12

LIVE STOCK AND THE FARM

31 ANGE IN PIGS A SERIOUS DISEASE. OUTBREAKS IN THE NORTH. The Live-stock Division of the Department of Agriculture contributes the following article: The skin disease known as mange, or scabies, in pigs has recently been discovered to exist on several farms in the Manawatu district. Officers of the Live-stock Division are actively engaged in dealing with the outbreaks and as there is evidence that the disease has a more extensive distribution in the Dominion, full inquiry is being pursued with the object of tracing centres of infectionj and by instituting suitable treatment and control measures, to endeavour io eradicate the disease. Towards this end 4he co-operation of all pig-breeders is requested, as it is by reporting any suspicious cases among pigs' that farmers can assist the department in eliminating what might prove to be a very troublesome menace to the pig-breeding industry. The following description of the disease is accordingly published for the information of all breeders of pigs. Mange is caused by the mange mite, technically known as sarcoptes scabiei. The parasite is not visible to the naked eye, but on microscopic examination of scrapings taken from the skin of an affected pig, is readily seen. The mites penetrate through the upper layer of the skin and excavate burrows in which their eggs are laid.

Mange of pigs may start on any part of the body. In the early stages of the disease it is usually found on the head around the eyes, on the ears and nose. From these parts it spreads over the neck and shoulders and along the back and sides, until the entire body may be involved. The most outstanding symptom is an intense itching, the pigs rubbing against posts, gates, or other objects. It is, of course, understood that pigs will scatch themselves because of the presence of lice on the skin, but the itching in mange is much more severe, the affected parts being frequently rubbed until they become raw. Loss of hair occurs, the affected parts appear dry and scurfy and may be covered with brownish or dark grey crusts. Frequently scabs are formed as a result of mechanical injury produced by rubbing. In old cases, the skin becomes more or less bare, is very thickened, and wrinkling or corrugation occurs. Young pigs suffer the most. Unthrifty condition results, with low vitality; development and fattening is retarded, anti severe cases may lead to general debility and death. The latter result has actually been observed on a few farms affected.

Mange in pigs is very contagious and is usually spread from pig to pig by contact, which readily occurs in pig pens. Objects upon which affected pigs have rubbed themselves are especially a source of transmission. Litter, etc., contaminated by affected pigs, is particularly dangerous. Pigs of all breeds and ages are susceptible to mange, but as before stated, young pigs suffer most severely. A sow presenting only slight infection will infect every member of her litter. Boars are readily infected and some bad cases have been observed in them.

Treatment of mange consists in applying j to the skin a preparation which will kill. the mange mites, and by repeating in from seven to ten days later kill the mites which have hatched out from the eggs not destroyed in the first treatment. Treatment may be classed under two headings—(l) hand-dressing, (2) dipping. Hand-dressing on account of the labour and time involved is only applicable on farms where a small number of pigs are kept, and even then must be very thoroughly carried out if good results are to follow. The following applications are used at hand-dressing: 1. Crude petroleum (fuel oil). 2. Sulphur and oil (1 part flour of sulphur to 4 parts raw linseed oil). 3. Kerosene and lard (mixed in proportion of half pint kerosene to lib lard). These remedies can be applied with a brush, distributed in a thin coating over the entire surface of the head and body, including the inner surface of the ears, and between the thighs. As before mentioned, the dressing must be repeated after an interval of a week. Dipping. Dipping is by far the most effective and economical method of treating pigs affected with mange. Where a number of pigs is kept, a dip becomes a necessity. Where a small sheep dip is available, this answers the purpose, but the erection of a small concrete dip, suitable for dipping pigs, is not very expensive, and quickly defrays its cost in labour saving, and in the results obtained in getting rid of the disease. Where a dip is available, pigs can readily be cleaned'of lice by putting them through the dip; this in itself can be recommended as having a marked influence on the condition of the animals, apart altogether from the subject of mange. The most effective materials used for dipping pigs for mango are: 1. Crude petroleum (fuel oil). 2. Lime and sulphur, Mix 251bs of flour of sulphur with 12jib of good quicklime. Grind the mixture with water until a smooth cream without lumps is obtained. Transfer this to a boiler capable of boiling 20 gallons, bring the volume of the cream to 20 gallons by the addition of water, boil and stir during half an hour. The liquid should now be of a dark red colour; if yellowish, keep boiling until the dark red colour is obtained, keeping the volume at 20 gallons. After the liquid has cooled, decant it from any small quantity of insoluble residue, and make up the volume to 100 gallons with water. Petroleum is recommended as the most effective and most convenient dip. Two dippings at most arc successful in curing the disease, whereas with the lime and sulphur dip four dippings at intervals of a week between dippings are necessary to effect, a cure. Fuel oil is obtainable at a low cost in most towns. The oil is poured on top of water in the dip to a depth of six or eight inches of oil floating on the water. In going through the dip every part of the pig’s body gets a coating of the oil. Full particulars of the dip and dipping fluid to use are furnished by live-stock officers to pig-breeders having the disease among their pigs. It is essential that all pigs on the farm should be dipped in order to effect complete eradication. Dirty condition of the pig’s skin, as for instance the presence of much mud, will naturally retard the action of the dipping material, and in such cases cleansing of the skin with brush, soap and water, previous to dipping, is recommended. Disinfection. Along with direct, treatment of pigs, very thorough measures of disinfection are necessary in order to remove the infection of mange on a farm. All litter must be removed and either burned or buried. Pens should be thoroughly sprayed and floors washed with strong disinfectant. All woodwork to be either tarred or lime-washed. The same applies to all rubbing places, such as gates, posts, etc. _ . It is advisable to shift pigs after dipping to a fresh site on the farm, otherwise, reinfection will occur from infected places, Pig-pens occupied by diseased pigs can be left unoccupied, after thorough disinfection, for six weeks, when it is considered the infection will have died out, provided the disinfection has been thoroughly, carried Necessity for Eradication.'

It is obvious that too much stress cannot be laid on the necessity to stamp out this trouble among pigs. These notes have been written with the object of bringing under the notice of till pig-breeders the

economic loss which might result frofn the presence of this disease amongst their pigs, and the necessity for reporting any suspicious cases to the department bo that investigation may be made. Owing to the extensive traffic in pigs, spread of contagion is easy, hence the possibility of the existence of the disease in pigs in places where it is least expected.

BOYS’ AND GIRLS’ CLUBS

PRIZE-WINNING ESSAY.

THE FUTURE OF THE MOVEMENT. In lieu of the monthly notes of the Southland Boys’, and Girls’ Agricultural Clubs movement, the winning essay in the competition open to members at the Southland Winter Show is published. The subject was, “My ideas of popularizing the Agricultural Club movement.” The winner was Greer Miller, of Gore, whose essay was as follows: The Boys’ and Girls’ Agricultural Association has been in existence in Southland for three years, during which time it has made steady progress and development. It has expanded from merely potato growing to a wider phase of agricultural work, embracing carrot, chou-moellier and mangold growing, while on the live stock side it has dealt with calf-rearing on sound scientific lines.

It has not hidden its light under a bushel but has brought itself more closely before the public by making excellent displays in Southland’s Winter Show and by conducting a monthly column in the Press. Nevertheless, it still feels that there is room for improvement. It has not commanded the public support it has a right to command. There are still districts where it is difficult to find supervisors; there are still girls and boys who have been left too much to themselves, and who have not received the encouragement they expected to find when they linked up as members and pegged out their plot or secured their calf. Ask any club member and parents of a club member what she or he thinks of the club movement and almost everyone will say, “It is great but it would have been much greater if only someone who knew all about the work had paid a call or two and given me advice when it was needed.” There will require to be appointed such a someone if many of the members are to gain the instruction they need.

Southland is a big province and the large number of club members are very widespread, so that the task of such a someone would be great, but the movement is worthy of the best that could be given it.

The chart work, whilst to some extent very necessary is becoming too extensive. The additional note-book this year has increased the member’s worries and is to a large extent a repetition of many of the details that must be recorded on the chart. It concludes by arriving at the profit made after the value of the hours of labour and costs of supplies and rent have been deducted from the value of the crop. It has no space in its account to calculate the value of the hours spent in recording. One feels that if such were taken into account there might be a debit instead of a credit balance. By all means maintain the chart in a simple form but do not overdo it. One hears of the social side of the association being developed in an odd centre, but the cases in point are so few they but serve to emphasize the lack of it generally. Could not the appointed someone make this side of the work very real in every centre. The baskets and the copper would be as—sured if a social hour were arranged. Such gatherings could have a box as do the Women’s Institute and interesting instruction could thus form the formal part of the evening. All members are interested in our various industries and brief lantern lectures or better still instructive “talkies” could thus be used to great advantage. It was stated in our monthly column that special work was being carried out in parts of Otago amongst girl members who were being taught how to preserve fruit by both the dry and the bottle methods. There is much fruit and the product of the vegetable gardens in Southland, which fruit and products the girls could be taught to preserve for winter use. Such work Would appeal to them and be of great value to them in later life.

Perhaps the greatest need of the club movement, apart, from the visiting expert and enthusiast, is the rousing of local interest to such an extent that the Women’s Institute, the Farmers’ Union and school committee will be competing keenly to become active members of the Boys’ and Girls’ Agricultural Club Committee. There is no finer work that may be undertaken, than that of assisting to make the boys and girls of Southland worthy members of a great movement. Let the Press, the executive, and the supervisors bring the matter clearly before them and they will not fail, and through them the club movement will be what it is intended to be—the greatest youth movement in the Dominion.

That “The Best Yet” may be next year’s slogan on the club movement is the hope of a third year member.

HEREFORD CATTLE DOMINION ASSOCIATION. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING. The annual meeting of the New'Zealand Hereford Cattle Breeders’ Association was held at Palmerston North last week, the retiring president, Mr E. Jefferson (Wairoa, Hawkes Bay) occupying the chair. The year’s working showed a credit balance of £99 10/10. The chairman commented that the year had been the best experienced for a considerable time. It was gratifying to be able to state that the finacial position had improved. The income amounted to £532 1/3 and the expenditure totalled £432 10/5.

The election of officers resulted as follows :—President, Mr E. M. Cranstone (Fordell); vice-presidents,' Messrs H. B. Stuckey (Dannevirke) and A. S. Holms (Invercargill) ; treasurer, Mr E. E. Short (Feilding) ; council, Messrs D. P. Buchanan (Feilding), J. M. James (Masterton), J. McKenzie (Masterton), retiring members, C. A. J. Levett (Feilding). W. K. Morton (Silverhope), G. McGregor (Waverley), A. Swift (Taihape), W. B. White (Takapau), E. Jefferson (Wairoa, Hawkes Bay). Meeting of Council. At a prior meeting of the council, it was decided to donate £2O to the prize fund at the Royal Agricultural Society, and to give miniature cups to the winners of the champion Hereford yearling bull at the Royal Show, and the Levett Perpetual Challenge Cup at the Manawatu Spring Show. Two new members were elected, Messrs J. R. Matthews (Waiorongomai, Featherston) and J. Nash (Tangiteroria, North Auckland). It was decided to nominate to the council of the Royal Show Society the following as judges of Herefords at the next Royal Show at Christchurch: Mr E. Jefferson (first choice), Mr 11. B. Stuckey (second choice) and Mr J. M. James (third choice).

AYRSHIRE CATTLE

NEW ZEALAND ASSOCIATION.

ANNUAL MEETING

Over 40 members were present at the annual meeting last week of the Ayrshire Cattle Breeders’ Association of New Zealand, held at Palmerston North. The president Mr A. M. Weir (Southland), occupied the chair. The annual report of the president was as follows: — “I am sure, in view of the present financial depression from which our members, in common with all primary producers, arc suffering, a resume of the balance-sheet must be most gratifying indeed. For the year ending April 30, 1930, our assets were shown as £l9ll 13/4, while for same date, 1931, they show as £2347 5/11, while our balance to accumulated funds amount, to £368 7/10. In ordinary circumstances the aforementioned figures go to make the year 1930-31 a record for the association and to have accomplished what we have under prevailing conditions is all the more creditable, and I am sure reflects great credit on the stability of our members and the ability of Mr McCay, our secretary, together with his staff, for the very efficient manner he has handled the finances of the association.

Probably the event of greatest importance during the year was the bringing of the bull importing scheme to a successful issue. As you no doubt are all aware, the five Canadian bulls were sold by auction in Wellington last August and after paying Mr Mills and myself £lOO over and above the former £lOO towards our expenses, the scheme showed a profit of £5B 5/8. Your executive proposes that this balance be earmarked for a similar scheme as soon as the position warrants it. Three of the bulls went to North Island breeders, two to Taranaki and one to Wairarapa, while two went to the South Island, both going to Southland. Members should feel grateful that they have in their ranks breeders imbued with such enthusiasm for their breed. Since the side I have been instrumental in the importation of four more young bulls. All these bulls have excellent production records to back them up, and, like the first consignment, arc of the conformation which will in due course make a marked improvement in our breed. Altogether in the last two years twelve bulls have been imported from Canada and I am sure as the years roll on we will look back to this venture, amongst others as being the stepping-stone to a much higher level of appreciation by New Zealand dairymen of our breed.

During the year most of the shows have been well patronized by a good display of Ayrshires and at the Southland Show they were not only the strongest section numerically, but from a quality point of view out on their own. The entries for the Royal Show from a numerical point of view were very disappointing indeed. A pleasing feature of the shows is the very fine displays shown in the Taranaki province, both from a numerical and quality point of view. No doubt, the Ayrshire has had an uphill fight in this locality, but it is a tribute to (he tenacity of our breeders and the quality of the cattle they are breeding that the breed is making such good headway in this province. The South Island championships will be held at Christchurch, the venue of this year's Royal Show, and I trust that although we can usually depend on the South Island breeders putting up a good show we will see a consignment come across from the North. The venue of the North Island championships will be decided at the annual meeting. Testing.—While the Government C.O.R. system has had to give way to the more constructive system of herd testing some very fine performances are still being put up under the former system, and since our last annual meeting probably the most noteworthy one is that of the three-year-old heifer owned by Mr Morgan Williams, namely “Maesgwyn Victoria,” who produced in 365 days 16,507.71bs milk and 646.981bs fat, superseding Messrs Moore and Son’s heifer, “Fair Lass of Greenbank," by 397.3 lbs milk and 7.131bs fat. Under the herd test our purebred and grade Ayrshire herds are showing up very well indeed, although at the time of writing this report the season’s figures are not complete. Mr J. G. Donald has a cow completing a herd test record on twice-a-day milking of around 6501bs fat and I myself have a cow under similar conditions and running in a herd of eighty cows going to finish up between 640 and 6501bs fat for 275 days and I believe that the Southland Herd Testing Association will be topped off with a grade Ayrshire herd of 60 cows averaging between 370 and 3801bs butter-fat.

This report would not be complete without a word or two on the economic conditions, and no doubt wo are experiencing the worst depression in the history of New Zealand. It is difficult to foretell the probable duration of the present situation, but personally I feel sure we have to make adjustments to meet a lower standard of remuneration for our primary products. Just what is the real cause of this debacle, many theories are being advanced, but I believe at the back of it all is too much jrolitical interferenco in business, bringing about a want of confidence in financial circles, a confidence so necessary in the wheels and cogs of national and international industry. I am sure it all of us to see to it at next election to use our best endeavours to put on the Treasury Benches men who will honour agreements and give to property owners that sense of protection and encouragement that industry and thrift deserve, and I feel that until wo have men imbued with those ideals holding the reins of office, especially in the Homeland,' we cannot hope to look for a return of real prosperity. It is interesting to note that although we have been assured that the quality of the North Island cheese for the season just closing has shown an improvement the amount of finest made is only 8J per cent, in comparison to the South Island with 59 per cent. Of the standardized article 5 per cent, has been graded finest, with almost an equal proportion second grade 4J per cent. There is absolutely no doubt about it that milk of a higher fat content than around 4 per cent, is not, and never was, any use for cheese-making purposes, and the sooner our dairymen interested in our cheese industry realise this fact the better and just as soon as the rank and filo of dairymen realise this, will our breed come into its own. In conclusion, I would like to thank, on behalf of the association, Mr McCay and his office staff for the very efficient manner in which No. 16 herdbook was compiled, together with the very substantial savings ho has effected in the handling of the finances of the association, and I trust that on top of a record year, which, from a financial point of view, the last one has undoubtedly been, that In the years before us each one will be as a stepping-stone marching to the tune of progress. For the year 193132 I wish all members a much brighter outlook,”

Supplementing his annual review, the chairman expressed satisfaction at the healthy financial position. The growth of the association was revealed by the fact that, whereas only nine new members had been elected since 1926, in the year 1930-31 the number was 21, including one life member. Mr Weir also referred to the bull Importing' scheme. It would be some time before such a project could be contemplated again on the grounds of expense. He understood that all the importations were doing well in their new conditions. He considered that every breeder should have his herd tested, so that the herd book could be closed to all but advanced registrations.

“Standardization of milk will have to stop, and when that transpires it will open the front door to our breed,” said the president. “However, all care should be taken to see that our breed is kept pure.” The report and balance-sheet were adopted. Election of Officers. The election of officers resulted as follows: Patron, His Excellency the GovernorGeneral; president, Mr A. M. Weir (Southland) ; vice-presidents, Messrs W. Hall (New Plymouth), W. C. Wallace (Cambridge), R. S. Weir (Southland); treasurer, Mr F. Mills (Hawera); auditor, Mr T. F. McKenzie (Hawera); council, Messrs R. M. Marshall (Pukekohc), T. D. Bissett (Otago), J. McLinden (Massey College), J. Donald (Featherston), C. M. Williams (Kaiapoi), C. B. Morgan (Woodville), W. H. Worster (Hamilton); secretary, Mr R. McCay (Hawera). \ Entrance Fees. Mr J. Kyle (Palmerston North) advocated reducing the entrance fee for the herd book, and also the entrance fee for members. Mr Kyle said that the present was a time when every effort should be made to popularize the breed and the association. Mr D. Buchanan (Palmerston North) said that he would support the motion to the extent of reducing the fee for the entrance of bulls to the herd book to 5/—. Mr Kyle said that many, farmers were now embarrassed and could not afford the amount, charged. He stated that the association was now in a good financial position arid could well make a reduction at this stage. He suggested a fee of 2/6 for each beast, entered in the herd book, this amount to be retrospective for the year. Mr Q. Donald (Featherston): I doubt whether that would be wise. We have money now, and should use it to push the breed to the best of our ability. The money thus invested would be well returned. Mr Buchanan said that money had to be found for the purposes of the organizing secretary, and a fee of 5/- would realize the extra amount, required for this purpose. Mr Kyle’s suggestion was passed as a recommendation to the council. Next Conference. It was decided to hold the next annual meeting at Hamilton. A motion moved by Mr Kyle that, it be held in Palmerston North was defeated. The meeting concluded with a vote of thanks to the secretary, president and extreasurer.