Answers to Inquiries.

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume 58, Issue 3, 20 March 1939, Page 260

Answers to Inquiries.

Contagious Abortion.

M. G. (WAIKATO)

' Please accept my appreciation of your fine veterinary notes for the farmer. Last June I purchased an eighteen half-Friesian - Jersey - cross heifer in calf and in' good condition. About December it began to grow an udder, but did not spring until two days before calving on 26th January, 1939. ■ . While the udder was growing it also developed two lumps about the size of hen’s eggs just under the skin, one on each side close in to the leg at the junction of the udder to the body. *' On 26th January it threw a calf about eight months still in the skin. There was also a lot of yellow-brown discharge with the calf, and it continued for a few days, although I used. a disinfectant twice. The roses on the calf lining was also covered with this yellow-brown discharge. Is this contagious abortion, and what is the best course to take ? What are the lumps, which ■ are unchanged, and have they . any connection with the calving ? The heifer is otherwise in good condition and is a heavy milker. Live-stock Division :—■ It appears that your bought-in heifer was infected with contagious abortion,

hence the premature calving and the extra amount of the yellow-coloured discharge, which is a distinct feature of abortion disease. In such a case it is advisable to burn or bury the calf, if dead, and also to, burn all discharges. The animal should be douched out regularly with a weak antiseptic. solution until all discharge has' ceased, attention being paid to washing down the tail and hindquarters. The animal should be isolated from the rest of the herd while any discharge is present, if this is possible. However, infection may be present on the farm ; in fact, the heifer may have become infected after arrival at the farm. It is advisable not to breed this animal again until a month or six weeks after all discharge has ceased. This may mean a careful watch as the heifer may appear in heat at an earlier date. As infected animals acquire an immunity with age there is no reason to dispose of the animal because of this infection. Heifers are more susceptible to abortion than older animals because of the age factor and the development of immunity. The development of the udder at an early date and the short springing period are typical symptoms of .an impending abortion in a heifer. Heifers usually show signs of springing over a period of several weeks before calving. The lumps described by you are the normal lymphatic glands situated at the upper and outside each back quarter of the udder. These normal glands show up particularly well in a thin-skinned animal. In a. fleshy udder it is difficult to see the glands, although they are always present: These lymphatic glands are usually larger and more prominent in high-producing animals. The glands rapidly become enlarged and very painful in cases of mammitis, and one of their functions is to act as filters to invading organisms.

Vitamin Requirements of Live-stock.

A. D. D. (WAIHOU) asks for information on the vitamin requirements of livestock and the ability by percentage of the various manures to replace a complete soil to maintain one cow per acre. . Live-stock Division : The subject of the vitamin requirements of live-stock, including the dairy cow, has been dealt with in many scientific journals within recent years. All - authorities are ’ agreed that where stock have access to green feed and are exposed to sunlight on a reasonably well-

mixed diet there should be no necessity to supply vitamins in any supplementary manner. Poultry and pigs, housed and kept on an intensive indoor system of production, would not comply with the above requirements, and the diet of these animals may prove to be deficient in the fat soluble vitamins A and D. Such a diet may be corrected by the addition of digestible green feed or a supplement such as cod-liver oil, which is rich in these vitamins.

Greasy Heel on a Horse.

E. P. (NGATEA) Will you please give me a cure for greasy heel on a horse ? Live.-stock Division : This condition of the heel of a horse is best treated by clipping the hair from the affected part. The part is then thoroughly washed with soap and water to which a little washing-soda has been added. This is necessary to remove all the greasy or sebaceous discharge which adheres to the edges of the cracks in the hollow of the heel. The part should then be well rubbed and thoroughly dried. If the horse is not seriously affected an astringent lotion or ointment, such as white lotion or zinc ointment should be applied to the affected area twice daily to assist in arresting the discharge and enable healing to take place. In advanced cases the discharge is copious and foul-smelling and wartlike .growths appear on the limb. These advanced cases require more drastic treatment, such as cauterizing and the use of strong lotions of copper sulphate, alum, and zinc sulphate. In mild cases the healing of the cracks is assisted by the repeated use of an ointment or the application of olive oil to the affected part. This applies more particularly to cases where the horse is required to work every day, the work tending to prevent healing of the cracks. Prevention of the condition lies in the direction of keeping the horse away from muddy ponds and preventing the continual wetting of the fetlocks. The use of concrete troughs for watering purposes in place of muddy pools has prevented the occurrence of the condition.