ANSWERS TO INQUIRIES.

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume 53, Issue 3, 21 September 1936, Page 188

ANSWERS TO INQUIRIES.

IN order to ensure reply to questions, correspondents must give their name and address, not necessarily fot publication, but as a guarantee of good faith. Letters should be addressed to the Editor. BURNT BONES FOR LAYING-HENS. G. H. M., Seddon : Are burnt bones of value to laying-hens ? The Live-stock Division : Quite a number of poultry-keepers add a small quantity of ground or broken burnt bone to the grit or oyster-shell, which should be within reach of the birds at all times. The broken burnt bones are ' considered to be useful when hens are laying thin-shelled eggs. . BLOOD COMING FROM UDDER. L. H., Willowbridge : In the milk coming from one quarter, a back one, of each of two cows blood occurs. Could you please inform me the probable cause of this condition ; whether the milk is fit for separation ; what treatment, if any, should be given ? The Live-stock Division : The condition you describe is most frequently brought about by small blood vessels in the udder becoming ruptured owing to the great congestion of the udder with blood, after parturition. Other causes may be bruising of the udder in some way, rough milking by hand, .or injury by means of the milking-machine. The act of milking naturally reopens the injury, and until this heals a varying amount of blood will come away, particularly with the strippings. Time alone will remedy the matter, though benefit will be derived by a very careful hand-milking ; do not strip right out; cease stripping at the first appearance of blood. It is not advisable to put through ■ the separator the milk, which, however, may be fed to pigs or calves without ill effect. With reference to further treatment of the cows, a drench composed of | lb. Epsom salts, J lb. common salt, and i oz. ginger to i quart of warm water may be given. If the case does not improve send a sample of the milk to the Officer in Charge of the Veterinary Laboratory, Wallaceville. If you do this the bottle for holding the milk, and also -the cork, must be thoroughly cleaned and then boiled for ten minutes to ensure complete sterility. UTILIZATION OF SUGAR-BEET. W. E. P., Hunterville : - Please describe the correct method of harvesting and feeding -sugar-beet to dairy stock, and also its value as a food for such stock when used in conjunction with hay. The Fields Division : The time to start lifting sugar-beet can be told by the yellowing or browning off of the lower leaves. Sugar-beet is deep-rooting and, consequently, very difficult to pull, but no information is available of any devices employed in New Zealand to assist in harvesting. In England special implements are used, although it is stated that the roots can be loosened by an ordinary plough, running a small furrow along the rows. The general treatment is much the same as for mangels, and the roots can be stored in a heap covered with straw. As regards the feeding-value of sugar-beet used in conjunction with hay, such a combination would be more suitable for dry stock, as it is very deficient in protein. The feeding-value of sugar-beet is somewhat higher than that of mangels (although, incidentally, the higher yields and easier harvesting of the latter generally more than compensate) ; approximately 12 lb. of sugar-beet (dry matter 23 per cent.) equals 25 lb. of mangels (dry matter 13 per cent.) or 5 lb. of hay. A ration consisting of about 8 lb. of hay and 24 lb. of sugar-beet per head per day should suffice for maintenance, although, as mentioned above, there

is likely to be a deficiency of protein. The sugar-beet tops are of value, approximately 25 lb. of tops being equivalent to 40 lb. of mangels. They should be fed, however, only after being allowed to wilt for about a week. RED-WATER IN STOCK. R. E. C., Frankton Junction : Please advise about red-water, which is said to be prevalent among cows being fed on new grass. The Live-stock Division : Certain farms and pastures are notorious for what is called red-water. This is especially true of pasture containing much cocksfoot, and in this country if the soil is of a peaty nature, or is badly drained swamp land, new grass may be associated with this disease, as also may green oats, but not so consistently. Turning cows on to turnips, especially if they have had a touch of frost, or on to roughage such as tall fescue, maize-stalks, and weeds, is conducive to this disease, especially when the cows have not had sufficient hay to make a reasonably balanced ration. As far as is known from extensive investigation here, the disease is of purely dietetic 1 origin, and is now not so prevalent, owing to animals being better fed and land being better drained and treated. When this disease appears in a herd, usually several animals are affected, and one of the first symptoms noticed may be the passing of reddish-coloured urine. Animals go off their feed, look sick and dejected, and may suffer from diarrhoea or constipation, and they are very anaemic. In several cases the symptoms become more pronounced and animals may go down and be unable to rise, or they may stand with their heads down, shivering, breathing heavily, and unsteady on their legs. Death takes place in two or three days. Treatment : Remove animals from feed they are on, give them good hay, and have them in comfortable surroundings. If thought necessary put covers on the sick ones and try feeding them with some crushed oats and bran and salt. Give a J lb. each of Epsom salts and common salt dissolved in 4 lb. of black treacle and oatmeal gruel, milk, and eggs, &c., in very bad cases. There is no reason why you should not drench the cow with her own milk. After this, 2 oz. of common salt dissolved in two quart bottles of milk may be given daily as you think best, and discontinued when you wish, according to the progress made. A tonic may be given after. To endeavour to prevent this disease when feeding upon roots, allow a reasonable amount of hay and do not keep animals on the new grass too long. Change them frequently to different feed.