CARE OF LIVESTOCK DURING OCTOBER

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume 79, Issue 3, 15 September 1949, Page 196

CARE OF LIVESTOCK DURING OCTOBER

Contributed by the Animal Research Division.

BLACK-HEAD IN POULTRY

BLACK-HEAD disease affects young turkeys and poultry and it can best be prevented by rearing these on land which has not been con-

taminated by adult poultry. If an outbreak occurs, kill all affected birds and move the remainder to

clean ground. In- the event of a bad outbreak the local Poultry Instructor should be consulted, because in some cases treatment may prove beneficial. * * *

BLACK DISEASE vaootx attcin 1

In the east coast areas of the North Island where black disease of sheep occurs vaccination

should be carried out during November or early December. This gives protection against

the disease, which occurs mainly in summer and autumn. Vaccine should be ordered immediately.

CATTLE TICK CONTROL

Where cattle ticks are plentiful spraying or

dipping should be carried out in November and December to prevent tick worry and to kill

the adult female ticks before they lay their eggs. ♦* * ■

BLOWFLY STRIKE IN EWES

In districts where crutch strike causes trouble in ewes crutching or early shearing is advised. Close supervision is necessary to detect cases so

that suitable treatment can be applied before the strike becomes too extensive.

When treating cases of fly strike shear the wool away so that a lin. margin of clean skin is left around the affected area. Remove the maggots by tapping with the shears and apply some reliable non-irritant dressing. Irritant fluids such as kerosene tend to cause restrike.

mmniDircwTADv SUPPLEMENTARY ;

Supplementary feed is essential to ensure the proper feeding of cows in winter and in dry summers and to control facial eczema in autumn,

As soon as more pasture is available tKan is ne kssary to meet the immediate needs of

stock the balance should be shut up for silage or hay. On a well-managed dairy farm it should be possible to shut up at least 40 per cent, of the pasture. Crop growing for fattening of weaned lambs is standard practice in South Island districts and it could be adopted with advantage more widely in North Island districts which experience a dry summer. Crops such as thousand-headed kale and turnips, in addition to providing excellent fattening feed for lambs, are a splendid insurance against facial eczema. In Poverty Bay and Hawke’s Bay they should be sown before the end of October so that they can be well established before dry weather sets in.

BLOOD POISONING AFTER SHEARING

Deaths after shearing may be due to infection of cuts or bruises with the blackleg germ. This

disease can be prevented by vaccinating at least 3 weeks before shearing. If

deaths have occurred in previous years, a Veterinarian or Inspector of Stock should be consulted with a view to arranging for vaccination this year.

GREENLEG IN BROODER CHICKENS

Greenleg occurs in poorly-ventilated brooders, especially if they are overcrowded and damp. At

the ' first sign of trouble take necessary measures to ensure that ventila-

tion is adequate and the litter is changed if it is at all damp.