Veterinary Notes for the Farmer

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume 63, Issue 1, 15 July 1941, Page 47

Veterinary Notes for the Farmer

Discussions on First-Aid Measures

Contributed by the Livestock Division

Coughing in Animals (Sheep)

(Continued from the June issue.)

FOLLOWING last month’s notes on coughing in animals, the significance of coughing in sheep claims attention. There is a significant difference between sheep and cattle in that the sheep is seldom, if ever, affected with tuberculosis, a common cause of coughing in adult cattle. Adult sheep are seldom affected with disease of the lungs or chest if one rules out such cases as may be caused by some form of traumatism or dipping or drenching. ' Occasional cases of pleurisy or pneumonia may be set up in sheep following' careless dipping or drenching, but, as already stated in the case of cattle, the dullness of the animal and the laboured breathing are more significant for diagnostic purposes than the nature ,of ,the cough. ’ The, history of the animals is always most important, and in many cases will give a clue to the origin of the condition; which brings about coughing. j' It is rather common to find sheep coughing following a journey by road

when the surface is covered with dust. Any irritant inhaled by sheep, whether dust, dip fumes, or fumes from irritant medicinal preparations, such as worm drenches, may cause a temporary outbreak of. coughing which is soon overcome when the irritant has, been removed. Coughing in Young Sheep In young sheep, particularly lambs and hoggets, the most common cause of coughing is a specific small, threadlike worm which becomes attached to the small bronchial tubes in the lungs. The condition set up is frequently described as lung-worm disease of sheep. It is so common that very few young sheep are entirely free from this class of worm. The infective worms are picked up from the contaminated pastures during grazing, and the disease in sheep is comparable in many ways to the disease of calves already described under lung-worm disease,

husk or hoose. The small - bronchial tubes may contain' hundreds , of the small thread-like worms, which, because of their irritation, set up a permanent type of . cough in lambs and hoggets. 1/ ' , The worms may be clearly demonstrated when the lungs are examined at a post-mortem examination of an affected animal. Some worms may even be found imbedded in the lung tissue as well as in the tubes. The coughing due to lung worms is frequently much more marked after exercise, and it is quite common to hear and recognise the characteristic cough in travelling sheep. ■' Treatment Specific treatment for the removal of this worm in young sheep is not carried out as a routine ' practice under

normal farming conditions. This is mainly due to the risk involved in carrying out such a treatment, and must not be viewed as other than desirable and, in many cases, very necessary. When the worms are present in large numbers they have a very debilitating effect, and every endeavour should be made to overcome and remove them. If this cannot be carried out by some direct or specific treatment, then other means must be considered. ■ In practice, the most commpn method of attack is to dose affected sheep for the removal of worms in the digestive tract in order to reduce this centre of infestation, and then to provide a change of pasture or other feed and build up the resistance of the affected animals by providing supplementary feeding if necessary. It is common knowledge that if lung worms are present in large numbers there is also invariably a heavy worm infestation in the digestive tract. If the pasture and environmental conditions are favourable for the propagation of lung worms they also favour propagation and in-

festation by the worms normally found in the digestive tract. . Adult sheep tend to rid themselves of lung worms and are said to develop an immunity against reinfestation. Many such animals no doubt harbour

•MH——MM—MM—llH—llli—llli—llli—llli—llll—-Illi ——llli—-Illi—-a few parasites, and in this way the disease is carried on from year to year. Under the most favourable conditions for the spread and development of the worms —namely, warmth and moistureheavy pasture contamination in such seasons results in heavy animal infestation, and so the life cycle of the offending parasites is carried on. Apart from other parasitic causes in the lungs, such as hydatid cysts, cough-

ing in adult , sheep is not commonly seen. Hydatid cysts are frequentlyfound in the lungs of sheep, particularly in the case of aged ewes. .

Breach of Stock Remedies Act

Morrinsville Proprietor Fined £JONVICTED of selling an unregistered stock remedy described as “Edmur C Wash,” Edward Francis Murphy, trading as the Edmur Co., was fined £5 and costs by Mr. W. H. Freeman, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court, Morrinsville, on June 5. De- ( fendant pleaded guilty. It was stated in evidence that Murphy had actually applied for the registration of his preparation, but the Stock Remedies Registration Board refused registration on the grounds that it was unsuitable for the purposes claimed. .

FROM time to - time one hears of 1 outstanding dairy cow performances, but the record of Mr. J. Bain’s 25-year-old crossbred cow, “Cider,” will be hard to beat. Her 23rd calf, a wellgrown and promising heifer, can be seen facing the camera in the accompanying illustration. The cow was purchased at the age of two years for £5, and for 22 years was a high and trouble-free producer. Under herd test from the age of 13 years, this cow averaged more than 4001 b of fat. ■ During the season 193839 when under test for part of the time only 3001 b of butterfat were produced. To appreciate the production* capacity of this cow, readers must be reminded that the average cow reaches her maximum production at the sixth lactation, and that production falls off each year thereafter, until at the twelfth calf it is only about 60 per cent, of the maximum. The phenomenal average of 4001 b of fat per year from the age of 13 years for a period of ten years puts this ‘ cow among the world’s ; record breakers, combining longevity, high production, and apparent freedom from disease.

Production Record of 25-yeor-old Cow

Mr. Bain maintains that this “old faithful” deserves the best pasture his farm at Seddonville can supply, and has left her to rear her 1940-41 season heifer calf. When the photograph was taken on May 1 the opinion was formed that “Cider” would rear another calf, as all indications pointed that way. —JAS. FLEMING, Inspector of Stock, Greymouth.

Answers to Correspondents

Mixing Cobalt

“SHEPHERD” (STRATFORD):— Could you . please tell me whether it is quite all right to mix cobalt with nicotine and bluestone when drenching lambs. We have always used them separately, but this makes a lot of work. Whenever we have used cobalt we have always had good results with it. Could I get cobalt from the Department in my own district? \ LIVESTOCK DIVISION:— Cobalt sulphate may safely be mixed with the .bluestone nicotine drench when drenching lambs. > In the “Journal,” July, 1939, p. 52, the Animal Research Division replies to a similar query that cobalt is not likely to be beneficial if administered at longer intervals than one week. Cobalt is not available directly from the Stratford office, Department of Agriculture, but can be forwarded from, this office at Is per oz. and Id. postage, cash with order.

Cheap Lick for Stock

H.M. (MARTON):— Could you kindly let me know per medium' of the “Journal” the ingredients and way of mixing for making a reliable and cheap lick for sheep and dairy stock for the Marton district? LIVESTOCK DIVISION:— A straight bonemeal-salt lick should be sufficient, made of equal parts of steamed bone-flour and agricultural salt. If stock do not take it readily, the proportion of salt may be increased

at first. If covered lick boxes are not used, 1 gallon of raw linseed oil per cwt. will “water-proof” it to some degree, but also adds to cost. A trace of iodine in the form of 1 ounce of potassium iodide per cwt. dissolved in pint of water and sprinkled over bone-meal before mixing may also be added. Cobaltised salt is obtainable from the Department of 'Agriculture at 2s per 5 lb. bag, plus Is postage, 1 lb. being added to each cwt. This is necessary in cobalt deficient (bush-sick) areas, but we have no knowledge that this is needed in your district.

Red Worms in Water

A.G.M. (RUNCIMAN):— I have noticed large numbers of red worms in the mud and water at the drinking places this' year. I would appreciate any information, you can give about these worms. Are they a stock parasite? If so, how to get rid of them. I have been advised to drench wormy calves with a teaspoonful of Lysol in a cup of milk for four days running, and repeat treatment in ten days’ time. Would you recommend this? LIVESTOCK DIVISION:— The worms at the drinking places do not affect stock, and consequently are of ,no importance from that . point of view. , Regarding Lysol for the treatment of parasites in calves, this agent, though frequently used some years ago, has been superseded by bluestone (copper sulphate).' The solution for drenching is made by dissolving 8 ounces of bluestone in 3 gallons of water. Doses are as follows:4-month calves, 3oz; 6-month calves, 4oz; 9month calves, 6oz; 12-month calves, Boz. x Where parasitic infection is likely to occur, perventive treatment from weaning time is much more economical than more frequent drenching later, when the animals have received a set-back which may prove fatal or difficult to overcome. Drenching should be carried out once monthly as a prevention; as a remedial measure, however, dosing should be repeated in 14 days and then at three-weekly intervals. Good results will not be obtained unless a concentrated food (1 to 21b of a mixture of crushed oats and linseed nuts) be fed daily and the animals moved to upland pasture. Drinking should be from troughs only.

A dvisorv Service an MUVIJUiy jerviwe on Veterinary Matters.

Farmers are invited to submit inquiries connected with the health of their stock, and the replies will be published under this heading.