PROTECTING YOUNG STOCK.

Waipa Post, Volume III, Issue 126, 9 July 1912, Page 4

PROTECTING YOUNG STOCK.

THE STOMACH WORM TROUBLE. With the winter on us, a watch should be kept upon young cattle (calves and yearlings especially) and in the case of sheep, upon hoggets, for the development of symptons of stomach worm troubles, says " Viesse," the

veterina'ry contributor to the " Farmers' Union Advocate" The writer says:—lf taken in hand early, and if proper measures be adopted, there is a good prospect of checking and getting rid of this troublesome disease, but the longer the animals are neglected the less chance they have of pulling through. The fust sympton noticed is scouring and as this goes on, rapid loss of condition occurs, often ending in death.

Prevention is the main thing. The parasites which cause the trouble are picked up from the paddock with the feed, or are taken into the system with the drinking water. Low-lying, illdrained- paddocks, especially if with a clay sub-soil, are the most likely to harbour the worms, and a special danger exists in pools of still water, from which the animals can drink. As a matter of fact, young stock should not be kept in such paddocks, if any which are chier and have better natural drainage are available. If scouring is observed among young stock, the whole should be removed to other pastures, those which have not commenced, to sccur being, if possible, kept apart from the rest. It must be remembered that the eggs of the worms, and probably young, immature worms also, are passxl out of the system with the droppings thus infecting the pasture, and not only.providing a means of the parasites being introduced into hitherto unaffected animals, but also of reinfecting those in whom the worms have already established themselves, In addition to the change of pasture, the provision of a little dry feed is of great benefit, both as a preventive and curative measure. For this purpose sound oaten chaff, good well-saved grass hay, crushed oats or sucrosene are extremely useful. Good drinkingwater is necessary —either artesian or from a clear running stream.

These practical measures are of far greater value than is medicine, and the farmer who relies upon medicine alone when his affected stock are running on illdrained, wet, parasite-infested pastures is likely to be disappointed with the results. At the same time, when combined with a change of pasture and dry feed, medicine often helps, and it is especially worth trying when a really suitable change of paddock is net available. Many different remedies have been tried as for instance, turpentine, arsenic, creosote, lysol, etc. Of these lysol has given the best results, but it needs to be given carefully, as it has a tendency to irritate, the throat while beingswallowed. It should be well shaken up with from a third ho a half a pint of milk or of thin gruel, and given slowly and carefully. The dose of lysol for lambs is. half a teaspoonful for hoggets, three-quarters of a teaspoonful for calves, from threequarters of a teaspoonfulto a teaspoonful, and for yearling cattle a teaspoonful. It should be given once daily for three or four successive days.