Veterinary Notes for the Farmer

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume 66, Issue 1, 15 January 1943, Page 35

Veterinary Notes for the Farmer

The Skin of Cattle

The condition of the skin is an important guide to the state of health of an animal, and it is also liable to become affected by certain diseases. Although it is the most obvious part of a beast, it frequently escapes a careful examination. It is not only in local diseases that the skin may be affected. It may show changes when the internal organs are involved, if the animal is feverish, and so on. The purpose of this article is to give the farmer a few hints with regard to the skin in health and disease.

WHEN cattle are in good condition, the hair should be glossy, and lie smoothly. The winter coat should be shed in the spring, and should not be retained during the summer months. Delay in casting the coat may indicate nutritional disturbances. By means of the hair, of course, body heat is maintained and prevented from being dispersed too soon. “Hair Streams” While on the subject of hair, it might be well to refer to the direction of the “hair streams” on the buttocks of cattle as an indication of milk production, as this is a question often asked. The “escutcheon” is formed by the hair growing upwards and downwards and forming a “crest” at the line of junction. This extends to the udder, and is shield-shaped. Guenon of France stated that a large “shield” betokened a good milker, and also investigated the relationship of the various forms and shapes of the escutcheon to the production capacity of a number of animals. Nowadays little importance is x attached to this feature.

Shedding of the hair is of course a seasonal occurrence, but in some cases of chronic disease the hairs tend to become loose, and may be easily pulled or rubbed out. A loss of hair over a large part of the body is known as

alopecia, or baldness, and sometimes follows recovery of an animal from a severe disease. When the hair falls out, and the skin is scabby or thickened, there is an actual skin disease present, a matter which we will consider later. Cattle usually sweat freely on the muzzle, which therefore should be •moist. Sweating has been observed on the general surface of the body, but this does not take place to the same extent as in the horse. A decrease in sweat secretion, with a dry muzzle, occurs in certain, feverish conditions. Pliable and Elastic The skin of a healthy animal feels pliable and elastic, and is freely movable. If a fold of skin is drawn out between the fingers, it should rapidly return to its former position when released. The skin is kept supple by a greasy secretion formed in the sebacious glands, which are distributed over the surface of the body. This material also gives a gloss to the coat, and prevents the penetration of rain, thus saving undue loss of heat. When the animal is out of condition, or emaciated from a wasting disease such as tuberculosis, the skin feels tough and leathery. The skin may adhere to the underlying parts, and cannot easily be pulled into a fold; hence the expression “hide-bound.” The hair will probably be filled with dandruff, which consists of skin scales, fat, salts, and a large amount of silica and dirt. The amount of fat is variable, according to the diet. Swellings It is also important to recognise the presence of swellings under the skin. Sometimes a soft, dropsical swelling

may be detected, due to an abnormal accumulation of serum in the connective tissues underlying the skin, this serum, of course, having transuded from the blood. This is often due to congestion of the veins, the free passage of the blood being interrupted. In such cases, the swelling appears in the under portions of the body, especially the brisket, chest, and abdomen. This condition is found in heart troubles in particular, especially in the not uncommon cases where a foreign body, such as a length of wire, has been swallowed, and has penetrated the stomach wall, and pierced the membranous sac enclosing the heart. These swellings may also occur in cases of abnormal changes in the blood, or in heavy worm infections. Swellings may also occur as a result of local injuries. In such cases the swellings are usually accompanied by pain and increased warmth, and may later be succeeded by abscess formation. Sometimes accumulations of air or gas may occur under the skin. Such swellings crackle on being pressed. Air may enter through a wound in the skin. Gas may be formed in such rapidly maturing infectious diseases as blackleg and Haemhorrhagic Septicaemia. Colour of Skin The colour of the skin should also be noted in white-coated animals, in places where there is no hair to hide the skin. The skin becomes bluish-red when the blood is heavily charged with carbon dioxide gas, such as occurs in heart disease, lung congestion, and severe choking. Yellow discoloration may be due to jaundice. The white portions of the skin in cattle are liable to photo-sensitisation or sunburn, the

skin being pre-sensitised to light by the animal eating certain substances. Facial eczema is included under this heading. The skin is affected in ergot-poison-ing in cattle. A cow fed with ergot at

the Wallaceville Animal Research Station developed symptoms in thirteen days following heavy dosage. Lameness developed, and sensation was lost in the fetlock region, and the skin

i in that part became dry and hard. . There was a sharp line of demarcation at the fetlocks of both hind limbs. . Above the line, the skin was healthy; ’ below it was cyanosed and necrosis was commencing. At times a chain of small hard lumps may be observed in the skin of cows’ legs. These may contain yellow matter, and owners are often apprehensive in case they should prove to be tubercular in origin. In most cases they give no reaction to the tuberculin test, and are generally considered to be local skin infections due to a soil organism that gains entry through small abrasions in the skin. Dermatitis is a term meaning inflammation of the deeper layers of the skin. It frequently develops on the limbs of cattle that are compelled to wade through mud or manure. It may also affect the udder and teats. Treatment consists of cleaning and drying the affected parts, and applying anti-septic protectives such as zinc ointment. Skin Parasites The skin, like other parts of the body, may be attacked by parasites. In the winter, when the coat is long, it is liable to be infested by lice. They resemble tiny white specks moving in the hair, and being blood-suckers they cause loss of condition. They can be easily disposed of by using the emulsion described in the New Zealand “Journal of Agriculture,” June, 1940. Dissolve 1 lb. soap in 1 gallon of boiling water and stir in J pint of kerosene. Mix, thoroughly and make up to four gallons by the addition of cold water. Apply with a brush when cold, and repeat twice after intervals of three days. . Mites may burrow into the skin, causing the condition known as mange. Some mites enter the hair roots, and this is known as Follicular mange. This affects the hides, and it is not till the leather-making process has reached a fairly advanced stage that the pittings caused by the parasites can be seen. Where the disease can be recognised, treatment consists in the application of a mixture of kerosene and derris root. In what is known as Sarcoptic mange the mites . burrow into the skin itself. Severe itching occurs round the eyes, face, and neck,, and later hairless spots covered with small eruptions appear. After a few weeks the skin becomes wrinkled in thick folds. If taken in time, it is readily cured by scrubbing with hot soap and water, and applying a sulphur dressing. Another type of parasite is a fungus that lodges around the hair roots, the hairs become brittle and break off, and the skin becomes thickened and wrinkled. The lesions caused are round and sharply circumscribed, hence it is popularly known as ringworm. It occurs chiefly in young cattle in the regions of the ears and eyes. The skin

should be thoroughly washed with a warm soda solution, and the scabs removed. Then apply tincture of iodine with a stiff brush, and repeat the treatment on , two more occasions at intervals of five days. Ticks are creatures related to spiders and scorpions, and in some countries are the means by which a number of serious diseases are spread. Fortunately, the New Zealand species is not pathogenic, and is readily controlled by suitable dipping. It is hoped that these brief remarks will indicate to stock-owners the value of a careful routine examination of the skins of stock, and of the varied information that can be deduced from such an examination. —R. E. ALEXANDER, M.R.C.V.S., Veterinarian, Gisborne.

Answers to Correspondents

Lice on Horses

“G.McR.” (PIRONGIA): Can you tell me of a cure for lice on horses? Something to give immediate relief is desired as the horse is in low condition and won’t “pick up.” LIVESTOCK DIVISION: The treatment recommended for the eradication of lice on horses consists of an application of the following mixture: —lib. of soft soap is dissolved in a gallon of boiling water, then slowly add half a pint of kerosene, the mixture being well stirred while the kerosene is being added, so as to form an emulsion. Dilute this mixture by the addition of water so that the resulting quantity totals four gallons. Dress the body of the animal, using a brush for the application. If it is necessary to do the entire body surface, about one quarter should be dressed daily. This remedy is effective in destroying lice, but in order to secure the best results it is necessary to repeat the dressing within seven days, so as to kill any lice which may have hatched out from eggs remaining in the horse’s coat at the time of the first application. '

Eye Trouble in Horse

“N.K.” (ALEXANDRA):— Please advise what I should use in the treatment of a horse’s eye. At present the eye is very badly swollen in the bottom corner with proud flesh, and has a slight discharge, although the swelling has not become worse during the last month or so. The swelling is sufficient to force the eye out of position, thus affecting the vision. Unfortunately I am unable to state whether it is a growth or whether the eye has been injured, as I have not had the care of the horse all the time, so cannot tell how or when the trouble started. LIVESTOCK DIVISION:— From the description it appears that the horse is suffering from either an infection of the eye or a growth is developing on the membrane at the corner of the eye. Without seeing the horse it would be impossible to determine which, but I should advise treatment with 7J per cent. Argyrol. This can be obtained from any chemist and can be instilled into the eye with an eye dropper, a' few drops night and* morning. This should clear up any infection. If the trouble turns out to be a growth it will need to be surgically removed.