CARE OF LIVESTOCK DURING SEPTEMBER

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume 81, Issue 2, 15 August 1950, Page 100

CARE OF LIVESTOCK DURING SEPTEMBER

Contributed by the Animal Research Division. WELL-REARED cattle at the Department of Agriculture Animal Research Station, Ruakura, outproduced their poorly reared mates by a total of 401 b. of butterfat ROTATIONAL over the first two lactaGRAZING OF CALVES ti ons - both groups were treated alike from first calving onward. Frequent changes to good, clean pasture are essential if calves are to be successfully reared. (See notes in the July issue of the “Journal”.) Rotational grazing avoids deaths in winter, eliminates the need for drenching against worms, and produces yearlings 1001 b. heavier than those kept in the one paddock for weeks at a time. * * * Autumn-saved pasture is almost equal to highquality spring pasture as a milk-producing fodder. It should therefore be rationed to the milking cows FEEDING THE to ma^e ast un til the spring k;ttt u t vr uunn feed comes away and hardens MILKING HERD A . , . 4 up. An electric fence is essential for efficient utilisation, enabling it to be grazed in small breaks. Unless sufficient reserves of this pasture are available for full feeding, the balance should be made up with silage. Make sure enough hay is retained to balance up the lush spring growth. * * * For the first month or 6 weeks of its life a lamb depends almost entirely upon its mother’s milk. Research has shown that ewes rearing twin lambs . CARE OF EWES S™ considerably more WITH TWIN LAMBS mik th “ those rearing singles. Ewes with singles are capable of producing more milk in the early part of lactation than the lamb can drink. This

is not the case with ewes rearing twins, the two lambs together soon being able to take all the milk which the ewe can produce. For this reason ewes with twin lambs should be grazed separately and given the best feed available. Many farmers have worked out practical methods of achieving this. Late-farrowed spring litters should receive special attention, since they will be approaching weaning age. Creep feeding is the secret of securCARE OF tbe heavy weaner, and best results PIGS w * b be obtained by having a supply of meal and milk always before the litter. Weaned pigs must be well fed, and if meal has been used before weaning, its use should be continued for at least a fortnight to avoid an afterweaning check. The meal ration should be reduced as the skimmed-milk supply increases. It is preferable to feed meal to weaners up to half their daily rations and give the milk saved to the store pigs rather than feed meal to the older pigs at this stage. Sows should be hand mated, and receive sufficient milk and meal to enable them to regain some of the weight lost during the previous suckling. * * * On farms where scabby mouth occurs each new crop of lambs should be vaccinated, and this is most conveniently done at marking. If lambs are not VACCINATION AGAINST protected, they are SCABBY MOUTH liable I suffer ~ a severe check, as the disease makes eating very painful. The vaccine, which is available free through any office of the Department of Agriculture, gives very good protection if properly used. Care is necessary to keep the needle prong clear of grease. If it becomes blocked, no vaccine is applied and lambs may still be susceptible. * * * Mastitis is usually most prevalent in spring. Milk from all quarters should be carefully examined in a strip cup each day. If there is any abnormality, MASTITIS treat the quarter without delay, using three tubes of penicillin cerate at 24-hour intervals. Prompt treatment at this time of the year will greatly reduce loss in production from light or dry quarters. * * * To prevent coccidiosis in chickens it is necessary to keep them growing steadily. Any check is dangerous. Cleanliness is very important, as the COCCIDIOSIS disease spreads through the soiling IN POULTRY of . food by dro PP in g s - If an outbreak occurs, sulphamezathme should be used in the drinking water. Full particulars of dosage may be obtained from Poultry Instructors of the Department of Agriculture.. •’