Veterinary Notes for the Farmer

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume 63, Issue 4, 15 October 1941, Page 325

Veterinary Notes for the Farmer

Treatment of Bloat in Cattle

EACH spring the problem of bloat in cattle has to be considered. In some seasons the trouble is more serious and widespread than in others. Several factors enter into the explanation. If the cows have wintered well they are not so subject to bloat, even though the spring feed may not be very different from that of other years. On the other hand, the succulent orclovery nature of the spring feed may be more conducive to bloat in some seasons. The herd management is also another factor to be considered on the

type of country where some degree of bloat is to be expected year after year. The speedy accumulation of. gas in the paunch in acute cases of bloat must be attended to without delay if the animal is to be saved. It is advisable to remove the herd from the offending pastures to prevent other animals being affected. To relieve the acutely distended paunch of an affected animal one of several measures may be taken. A gag may be placed in the animal’s mouth, and, if' a probang is available, this may be passed down the gullet until it enters the paunch. If gas does not escape through the probang because of the doughy nature of the'contents of the paunch/ it may be necessary to puncture the animal in the left flank with ■ trocar and canula. The site of ,the puncture is the centre of the triangular space formed by the last rib, the point of the haunch and the loin bones above. As this so-called

..iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiih Contributed by the

LIVESTOCK DIVISION

triangular space is frequently nonexistent in the blown animals because of its distension ■ from the gas-filled paunch underneath, the point of puncture is taken as an equal distance from the last rib, the point of the haunch bone, and the loin bones above. The trocar and canula are directed downwards, forwards, and inwards. The trocar is then withdrawn and the gas escapes through the canula. The canula is left in the flank as long as gas continues to escape, and may be used as a means of administering any medicinal agent direct to the paunch. In an emergency a long, thin-bladed knife may be used to make the punc

ture. This is not so satisfactory, as the escape of gas is not free, and in any case some of the solid contents of the paunch may escape with the gas Abscess formation frequently result: in the flank wall. In less acute cases a large dose ’of ordinary baking soda may be given in water as a drench. From Jib. to i lb. may be given in a quart of cold water. Another drench ' frequently given is prepared by mixing two fluid ounces of oil of turpentine in* a pint of raw linseed oil. Occasionally, massage of the flank and exercising the affected animal is all that is necessary. The escape of gas through the . usual channel, that is, through the gullet, may be facilitated by the insertion of a gag in the mouth. The salivation thus caused brings about attempts at swallowing, when the gas may be regurgitated.

Actinobacillosis in a Bull

A LTHOUGH. actinomycosis and ALTHOUGH. actinomycosis and actinobacillosis are frequently seen in New Zealand as lumpy, jaw and wooden tongue, the case to be described 'is of interest because of its unusual size and location.The subject was a five-year-old Hereford bull. The owner first no-

ticed a swelling in the throat in October, . 1940. ; This became progressively larger, and spread down the neck to the brisket. When I inspected the animal in March, 1941, there was a large, firm swelling reaching from the angle of the jaws to the front of the brisket. The animal had fallen, away

considerably in condition, and it was decided to destroy it. Post-mortem examination revealed a large, roughly cylindrical growth some 2 ft. long, and ranging in diameter from 6 to 9 inches, and in the opinion of the writer would weigh about half a hundredweight. Examination of the growth showed is to be a case of actinobacillosis. —R. P. GILDER, Veterinarian,' Palmerston North.

SUBSCRIPTION RATES. , The Journal is issued monthly. The subcription within New Zealand, which is payable in . advance and includes postage, is 2s. 6d. a year. The overseas subscription is ss. Subscriptions should be forwarded or paid direct to any office of the Department of Agriculture in the Dominion. - Single copies, price 6d., are available from the Department of Agriculture. Box 3004, ’Wellington.

Plant Suspected as Poisonous to Stock

A PLANT suspected of being poisonous to stock, caper spurge (Euphorbia lathyris), was seen growing on a property in the Manawatu district, and the owner mentioned that a pet lamb had eaten some of the plant and died the following day. The plant contains an acrid juice, and the seeds yield a purgative oil. Euphorbia is. distinguished by its irritant action,, and it may cause an inflamed mouth and stomach with intense diarrhoea and vomiting. If sufficient dose is taken it causes nerve disorder, delirium, unconsciousness, general collapse, and death. The postmortem , appearances are those of acute gastro-enteritis. The accompanying illustrations show the plant in two stages: — (l) A young plant and one fully grown; (2) showing both types of leaves; and (3) a j oung plant and the top of a matured plant. Seed pods can be ■ seen along the stems. >

When ripe, the pods are of a black - ish-brown colour. The pods fall to the ground and open, releasing the seeds. When the young seedlings first

come through the ground they have the husk of the seed over them. Apparently, the seeds which fall do not germinate until the following year, but growth is fairly rapid, and the plant soon spreads. The height of a full-grown, plant is about 2 ft. 6 in. . Having a short tap root, the plant is easily .pulled and the spread may be prevented if it is not allowed to seed. The first or lower leaves are dark, green, long and tapered. When approaching the mature stage the plant grows a light green leaf of triangular shape, which appears to be a peculiar characteristic of this plant. The plant apparently likes good soil, and: does not appear to suffer if growing in the shade. —H. A. BAYLEY, Inspector of Stock, Palmerston North.

Answers to Correspondents

Scabs on Sheep's Mouths.- >

“SHEEP” (MID-CANTERBURY):— I would like your opinion on a scab with which some of the sheep are affected. The scab is chiefly around the mouth, lips, and nostrils, with a little sometimes up the centre of the face. They are about as big as a sixpenny piece and dry and hard, except in the worst cases, where they seem to crack and run. In the worst cases the animal’s lips are so swollen and cracked that it , is hard for them to eat. There seems to be about 10 per cent, of the two-tooths affected, with a very rare case in the rest of the flock. They were all wintered together on soft turnips, with a good ration of oat-sheaf

chaff, and since then they have been running on green oats.

LIVESTOCK DIVISION:—

The condition affecting your sheep is known as contagious ecthyma, a virus disease affecting the mouth, lips, and nostrils, resulting in scab formation in these . parts. . The disease is seen from time to time in lambs and younger sheep, but more rarely in older sheep because of the possibility of the latter having acquired an immunity to the disease. Outbreaks are seen quite frequently in sheep on coarse feed or when the sheep are on turnips, especially during frosts. Although you are probably more interested in the treatment of your affected sheep, it is necessary to advise that this disease may be successfully prevented by vaccination of the susceptible flock. Therefore, on any property where the disease appears

year after year it is advisable to vaccinate the lambs and young sheep. The virus may remain active in the scabs on the ground and carry on the infection in subsequent years. The technique of vaccination is analogous to that of smallpox vaccination in the human subject. It is comparatively simple, and can be carried out on lambs at marking time. The vaccine is prepared at the Animal Research Station, Wallaceville. A small area of skin inside the flank is cleaned and the skin stretched with the fingers and thumb of one hand; -then several superficial scratches about one-quarter of an inch long are made with a scarifying instrument. One drop of vaccine is thoroughly rubbed into the scarified area with a small stiff-bristled brush. It is necessary to emphasise that the skin should be lightly scarified, only the superficial layer being broken through; it is neither necessary nor desirable to draw blood. The areas scarified must not be large, and the amount of vaccine limited to one drop or so. otherwise the resultant “takes” will be unnecessarily severe. Medicinal treatment for this disease is not particularly satisfactory, but some benefit may be derived by cleaning the areas involved in badly-affected animals, and applying a preparation made by a mixture of one part of tincture of iodine to two parts of glycerine. Honey and boracic acid makes a sunable ointment. Repeated applications of* the selected treatment are indicated. A change on to soft feed such as the green oats you are now using will Assist in bringing about recovery.

Scours in Calves

“MACK” (TE PUKE):— Would you please give me some advice about scours in calves? Every year I have trouble with my calves. They >do all right till about three or four weeks old, when they scour, at first foul-smelling liquid, usually blackish in colour, but not always. They go very thin and sunken in the eyes in 24 to 48 hours, and the scouring usually turns to blood in from one to three days. Some of them die, though most of them get better eventually, but it puts them back very badly. They are often not much more than skin and bone in a week’s time. I have tried many cures, but none are much good. At present I give , a dose of -castor oil at the first symptoms, and follow with a mixture made up by the local chemist.

What is 'the. cause? It is definitely not dirty feeding tins nor cold milk; they usually take bad before I start them on skim milk, so this has nothing to do with it. Is it likely to be a germ in my calf paddock? I have been rearing calves in the same paddock for many years. It is really the only suitable place to keep them. - LIVESTOCK DIVISION:— According to the history of your losses it would appear as if your young calves become infected with a microscopic parasite known as a coccidium, the disease being known as coccidiosis. . At the age of three or four weeks the calves are eating some grass or probably drinking from contaminated surface pools in the calf paddocks, and in this way pick up the coccidia from the calf paddock. It is essential that you discontinue the use of the present calf paddock, which appears to be “calf-sick” and probably teeming with parasitic forms of various kinds. The calf paddock should be ploughed up, drained if necessary, and heavily limed and cropped. It may then be sown

down in grass again and used for a number of years as it is so suitable for the rearing of calves. > z . It is difficult to suggest how the disease may be prevented if you continue to use the same paddock again this year. Is it possible to keep the calves off the paddock and to feed them on hay until they become older,

as the disease . is more serious in the case of very young animals? It will pay to use another paddock for the calves, even • though there is an increased labour in feeding them. - The disease is serious for young calves in that once the diarrhoea turns to dysentery the loss of blood is so serious .that the young animals are rapidly reduced to skin and bone. The

serious setback, even though they recover, materially affects the normal growth and development of .the calves and interferes with the digestion and absorption of food. Such a setback renders the calves more susceptible to both stomach and lung worms at a later age. The worm position is also another very strong argument in favour of ploughing up the paddock and using another paddock for calves for a season or two. The treatment of affected animals consists of removing them from . the paddock, giving a laxative dose of medicine (such as castor oil), and then following up with some medicine containing an iron preparation to counteract the loss of blood. Good nursing, nourishing, food in small quantities, keeping the calves dry and warm, and limiting the drinking of water, which should always be pure, are . all essential features of successful treatment. Drinking surface water or contaminated water in the calf paddock should be absolutely prohibited.

Bearing Trouble. W.A.O. (GISBORNE):— In bearing trouble, is not the protrusion actually part of a distended and swollen bladder enveloped in a sac of the lining of the vaginal passage, and could it not be dealt with by first emptying the bladder by means of a rubber catheter? ; LIVESTOCK DIVISION:— In a certain number of cases of bearing trouble the bladder may, as you suggest, be displaced and form part of the prolapse, enclosed within the lining of the vagina. Passing of a catheter, however, would probably be difficult, if not impossible, both because of the displacement of the opening of the urethra and the sharply-bent state of the bladder neck. Gentle pressure on the prolapsed portion usually restores the bladder to its normal pos s -

tion, when urine can ne expelled naturally. In an extreme case it might be necessary to tap the bladder through the wall of the vagina with a hollow needle, such as a large hypodermic needle. This displacement of the bladder is not always present.

Pig Feeds Compared. “ENTHUSIASTIC SUBSCRIBER” (OHURA):— Will you please print any facts you have on hand comparing barley, maize and copra as pig feed along with molasses for wintering store pigs? SUPERINTENDENT OF THE PIG INDUSTRY: The feeding value of barley is 72 lb. feed per 100 of barley, of maize 80 per 100,. of copra 126 per 100, of molasses 58 per 100 lb., and of meatmeal 80 to 100 lb. per 100. These should be the relative prices paid for them. Barley and maize can be the only and complete diet of the pig, but copra, because of its high oil content, should never be fed at the rate of more than 2 lb. per day per head to pigs of over 100 lb. and 1 lb. per day to lighter pigs. It is more satisfactory if fed at

half of these rates. Similarly, molasses should never exceed about one-sixth of the pigs’ daily feed supply. All these feeds used for wintering pigs can be profitably used at the rate of not more than 2 lb. per head daily for wintering pigs on grass and at 1 lb. per head daily for pigs on roots. The feeds are too dear to use in amounts greater than this. They are merely foundation feeds, given in the absence of milk to enable pigs to make full use of their main, food supply, grass, or roots or other cheap home-grown feeds. Half a pound of meat-meal per head daily is essential in the absence of milk. Meat-meal is the cheapest meal for wintering pigs, and should be used at the rate of lb. daily whatever other grain meal is used. When meat-meal is used, other grain such as maize, barley, copra, etc., may be used in addition at rates varying from nothing up to l|lb. daily, depending on the size of the pig, the amount and kind of bulk available, and the rate at which it is desirable to grow the pig. In general it does not pay to feed so as to fatten pigs in cold weather. It does pay to keep them in good thriving condition.

HI. 4H Illi——llli —llli —llli—llli Advisory Service 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. II Qu ■■ —mt KM—lin-Illi-im— mh— «u—mi