DAIRY HERD TROUBLES.

Waikato Times, Volume 97, Issue 15272, 23 June 1923, Page 3

DAIRY HERD TROUBLES.

MAMMITIS AND STERILITY. VALUABLE VETERINARY LECTURE. . The following extracts are from a lecture delivered by Dr. A. Mackenzie, Government Veterinary Surgeon, at the j Ruakura Farmers’ School: — j Contagious manunitis in dairy cows j is a contagious form of catarrhal in- I fiammation of the udder, caused by a micro-organism which is usually not fcfund in other cases of mamrnitis. The J disease may affect one or more quarters, and as a result invariably the quarter of the udder is put out of, action, or the cow is rendered useless as a dairy cow. In any case she is a J danger to the remaining cows in the j herd. The disease presents itself in j several forms, namely, an acute affec- i lion, and a chronic form of the disease. In the acute form, if seen early, the paTfent shows symptoms of constitutional disturbance, such as shaking and shivering, and is off her food, and she has a temperature. On examining the udder it appears abnormal, and either a fore or hind quarter may show signs of inflammation. The quarter is hot and , painful to the touch, and enlarged, and the .secretion of milk is suspended. On milking you may get a wastery fluid of a straw colour, or you may get a thick material like curdled milk.

In the chronic or milder form of the disease, you may only find a hardness at the base of? the teat in the form of a lump; there may be an obstruction to the flow of milk or there may not be, but in any case there is something wrong, and it should be sufficient to put one on their guard, and if a newly purchased cow, she should be isolated until the real cause of her condition is investigated. All forms of mamrnitis are not contagious, and may be caused by chills, 'injuries, and many other causes.

Treatment of affected cows is not warranted, other than to relieve the animals as far as possible. In the acute form hot fomentation for two hours twice daily is beneficial. A dose of opening medicine and the udder well dried and hand-rubbed after fomenting prevents complications, and the rubbing into the udder of camphorated oil, olive oil, or even lard has a beneficial effect. Dr. Mackenzie did not seem to countenance the injecting into the udder of medicinal agents unless by a qualified practitioner, but would rather recommend the practical dairy farmer to leave well alone in this direction, and rather turn the cow out, away from contact with the milking herd with calf at foot, or otherwise dispose of her. With regard to the prevention of the disease, the following points were suggested:—

(1) Examination of all new cows for any evidence of disease. If a quarter or teat seems abnormal or suspicious, draw the milk into a glass or tumbler and let it stand all night. If it does not settle down like ordinary healthy milk, isolate the animal until the cause is known, and do not use the milk, but remember an animal well on in pregnancy will give abnormal-look-ing milk. (2) In the milking shed all well udders and teats should be examined daily as a routine for any evidence of disease, and anything out of the ordinary put to one side until the-milk-ing of the herd is completed, and afterwards milk by hand. (3) Never milk a diseased quarter on to the ground or floor of the milking shed; it isfbetler to do so into an old tin containing an antiseptic, and dispose of it, for it must be remembered that the drainage of the milking shgd may be in direct contact with either its entrance or exit.

(4) Animals entering and leaving the milking shed should do so with the minimum exposure to contamination. If cows were milked individually in the field, contagious mamrnitis would scarcely be heard of unless it was carried on the hands of the milker, after milking a diseased cow. Therefore it is up to the dairy farmer himself to improve the local condition of his milking shed. (.5) The hands of the milker and the milking machine must*necessarily be a contributing factor to the spread of the disease unless care is taken. It is therefore necessary to keep everything as clean anrl as sterile as possible, including the milking machine, for It is probable that infection may result from a slight wound or abrasion caused by the cups of the milking machine. Contagious Vaclnltls. Sterility and contagious abortion was dealt with by the lecturer under one heading. Contagious vaginitis, he said, seemed v to‘ be of a contagious nature, as the genital organs of the male and female animals became affected, and sterility seemed to be the result in many cases along with abortion. Among the symptoms of the disease the most common sign was returning to the bull. There seemed to be no marked outward appearance of disease even if one is very observant. There may be a colourless discharge or a muco-purulent discharge like that from a wound. On physical examination it is fairly easy to detect the disease. It is only necessary to examine the genital tract. If it ■is healthy it Is of a rose pink colour and free from any inflammation. The disease is characterised by an inflamed condition of the genital tract, showing little water-like blisters, not more than the size of a grain of shot, and filled with’a serous-looking fluid, and sometimes several are quite yellow in appearance. The result is that the infection spreads, and if not arrested will cause abortion or expulsion of the foetus.

The treatment advised by the Department of Agriculture is: Remove the bull (if running with the herd), and treat the organ; also Isolate and treat the cows, as follows; Syringe daily for a few days with a solution of Condy’s crystals (a teaspoonful to the gallon of water), using half a whisky bottle of this solution. In about four or five days use an astringent such as sulpho-carbonate of zinc, a small teaspoonful to a whisky bottle of water, and always boil water before using. Common salt and warm water, one tablespoonful to the gallon, is also useful.

Contagious abortion was, as explained, due to a special micro-or-ganism. The following advice was given; Make sure you have the disease, and that it is not caused by any other agents, such as contagious vaginitis. If you have abortion in your herd prevent infection as much as possible, and do not dispose of any young animals that abort; keep them, and the chances are that after two abortions she will hold, as she will have acquired a temporary immunity to the disease, and remember that all young stock that survives from cows ihat have aborted, and where abortion exists, have an advantage over othe'-s, as they have acquired a natural immunity. Animals that are noticed springing at a premature period should at once be taken from the herd and kept

an isolation paddock, and any cow that has calved prematurely should be also paddocked until all risk of infection to the herd is over. ! ,■ Until further research and a reliable vaccine is procurable, there is little advantage gained in expensive and usually unsuccessful treatment of these diseases; it is of more advantage to attend to the prevention of their spread. Afterwards a practical demonstralion on various diseases was given.