DISEASES IN DAIRY COWS

Taranaki Daily News, 1 August 1931, Page 12 (Supplement)

DISEASES IN DAIRY COWS

CONTROL OF MAMMITIS. ADDRESSES AT TOKAORA. The great difficulty in the investigation of mammitis lay in the failure to ascertain which quarter of the cow’s udder was affected, said Mr. C. S. M. Hopkirk, B.V.Sc., of the Department of Agriculture, Wellington, in the course of an address upon dairy cows’ diseases at Tokaora on Tuesday. It was also impossible to discover the manner in which the cows contracted the disease, he said.

Different methods had been tried to infect the cow, such as injecting the infected milk under the skin, and bringing the udder in contact with infected milk, but no disease had been contracted ■ by the animals so treated. Nevertheless, Mr. Hopkirk was of the opinion that the disease was conveyed by udder to udder ■ milking, both by hand and machinery. It was also pointed out that many farmers did not heed the indications given, when a slight swelling of a quarter appeared, only to subside. The cow owner did not consider the disease serious, but nevertheless it was chronic, and would later become acute, when it could be easily recognised. The only sure diagnosis was by means of a study of the milk under the microscope. Farmers could not do that themselves, but there were laboratories for, the purpose. Mr. Hopkirk advised all to test their milk for mammitis bacteria at least three times during the season, at the beginning, when the cows could be graded, then about December or January to see if the cows were still good, and at the end of the season to see that the disease would not be rampant in the next season. Reference to the harmful effect of mammitis-infeeted milk upon cheese-making was made. Dealing with contagious abortion, Mr.. Hopkirk said it was caused by a small organism, as was mammitis, and it could be contracted. in the same manner as was the latter disease. The speaker suggested to farmers that they milk the clean cows first, if possible. A better idea would be to have the infected and uninfected cattle in separate yards, but that would be very difficult. In either case, howeVer, there would probably be a little abortion left among the cows, but the percentage would be lowered. Mr. W. M. Webster, B.Sc., M.R.C.V.S., veterinary research officer of New Plymouth, spoke upon, sterility among cattle. He pointed out that the disease was a sequel to abortion, and many pastures showed too great a difference in the ratio of lime to phosphorus, and as the heavy-producing animals appeared to live close to the mineral 1 intake, they required a, temporary rest from calf production. As advice to those present Mr. Webster said that a lick appeared to give the best results. They should try a bone meal lick, and if the cow appeared to like it, should give it more, as the animal was the best indicator as to whether phosphorus was needed. A resident of Matapu who was in the audience quoted figures showing the percentage of sterility in his cattle before using a lick, and after. From 1924 to 1928 he did . not use a lick, and the average percentage of sterility over these years was 33. Then he had tried a bone-meal lick, and for 1929 and 1930 the average percentage was only 41. “FAKING” SHOW STOCK. ROYAL SOCIETY’S PRECAUTIONS. Increased precautions against the "faking” of pedigree show stock are being taken by the Royal Agricultural Society of England in connection with its ninetieth annual show at Warwick this month. The regulations have been so tightened up that many past efforts made by unscrupulous exhibitors to win prizes are for the moment defeated, until they can find new ways and means of deceiving the judges. Regulation 15, the most severe in the Royal Show schedule, now tells us that the fixing of any artificial contrivance or device to, or tampering with, or faking any live stock, will be treated as an attempt to obtain a prize by unfair means. In regard to heavy horses, the regulations read that the use of sawdust above the knee, or of resin, soap or other substances in any form or way designed to give an artificial appearance, or cording, or any improper means adopted in showing an animal, will disqualify it. ' • Any cattle found to he artificially coloured or otherwise faked in any part, either at the time of judging or at any time whilst in the showyard, will be disqualified and the exhibitor dealt with. Dairy cows with their teats plugged ; or the udder in any way faked will be disqualified. In the sheep section, it is laid down by regulation that any sheep found to have been artificially coloured on the face, ears or legs, or otherwise faked, ; with a view to deceive 1 the judges, will < be disqualified and the exhibitor dealt ; with. <

All pigs bom in 1930 and 1931 are to be subjected to an examination of their mouths by a veterinary inspector of the society, and exhibitors are requested, not to oil their pigs before the dentition examination. Should the state of dentition upon examination indicate that the age of the animal renders it ineligible to compete in the class in which it is. entered, it is to be disqualified. A. notice will be placed above the pen, and that notice must not be removed.

Any pig found to be artificially coloured or otherwise faked will be disqualified.

The use of artificial whitening and/or powder on white pigs is prohibited, and will lead to disqualification. Exhibitors breaking these rules by faking their stock will be dealt with under “Regulation 15,” which invests the Royal Society with powers of “warning off” those caught at any show tricks. This regulation reads that any exhibitor found guilty of attempting to obtain a prize by unfair means may lose all other awards gained honestly at the show, and may be disqualified from exhibiting at future shows of the Royal Agricultural Society of England. In regard to other precautions taken, soundness in stallions two years old and upwards exhibited at the Royal Show is assured by the fact that they must all be licensed under the Horse Breeding Act, 1918. Hence, they will not be subject to a veterinary examination in the showyard prior to judging. Brood mares, by veterinary examination, must be proved free from hereditary disease.

No bull three years old or upwards on May 20 is eligible to compete for any prize unless he shall have sired at least three living calves born within 12 months of thd date named. Any cow or heifer entered in the in-milk classes to whom milk has been given during the show will be disqualified. Then all. rams, two-shear and upwards, must be proved stock-getters.