Care of Livestock during December

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume 89, Issue 5, 15 November 1954, Page 456

Care of Livestock during December

Contributed by the Animal Research Division

PIG PRODUCTION

FARROWED sows should receive a daily ration< of 4 gallons of milk plus 2/3 gallon for each pig suckled. Newly weaned pigs should not be overfed; 1| to 2 gallons

per day in three feeds is adequate for the first 14 days. The ration can then be slowly raised to reach 2-J gallons at the end of the first month, and after the first

fortnight the number of feeds can be reduced to two per day. Replacement breeding stock should be selected from the bacon pens, and only the fastest-growing sows with good strong feet and at least 12 well-placed teats should be chosen.

CARE OF EWES AND FAT LAMBS

As each lot of lambs is sold the mothers should be drafted off together with any dry ewes which may remain in the flock. If feed: is short and the ewes have very little

milk, it usually pays to wean all the lambs, which can then be given the best grazing available. The ewes

should be shorn and those which are to be retained should be placed on short pasture with ample water. This will help to reduce their condition and will result in a better lambing percentage in the following season.

DAIRY COW NUTRITION

Dairy production for the year can be materially affected by feed conditions during summer. Cows fed poorly now not only produce less milk during summer, but will dry

off earlier in autumn. Dairy statistics show that long lactation is very important, so the feeding of silage or other supplementary

milk-producing fodders should be started as soon as pasture begins to dry off. It should never be left until milk production begins to show a material fall.

COWS RETURNING TO THE BULL

If cows are returning to service, the mating records should be examined to see if any particular bull is to blame. If this is so, it is wise to have a veterinarian or Livestock Instructor collect a semen sample

for examination. Care is necessary when purchasing replacement bulls.

If possible, a young bull that has not been used previously should be bought. A bull should never be bought in the saleyard unless his full history is known. Washing out cows seldom helps and may cause trouble if irritant fluids such as kerosene are used. It pays to consult a veterinarian as soon as the cows are noticed returning to service in unusual numbers. He cannot be expected to diagnose the trouble months later.

SHEARING

If ewes with lambs are to be shorn, every effort must be made to reduce the time lambs are away from the ewes,

as it is easy to dry ewes off at this time of year. They should be brought to the shear-

ing shed in small mobs and should be dagged before reaching the board.

FOOT-ROT CAN BE ERADICATED

Farmers who wish to eradicate foot-rot from their

flocks should obtain a copy of Department of Agriculture Bulletin No. 325. This is the season in which the

eradication campaign must be planned.

FOWL POX

So-called roup is often fowl pox. Specimens should be sent to the Department of Agriculture Animal Research

Station, Wallaceville, for diagnosis. Outbreaks of this disease can be prevented by

vaccination, of which full details may be obtained from the nearest Poultry Instructor.