Care of Livestock during August

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume 101, Issue 1, 15 July 1960, Page 46

Care of Livestock during August

By the Animal Research Division

CARE OF THE CALVING COW

r’OWS about to calve should be brought into a handy paddock so that they can be kept under supervision. If a cow has difficulty in calving veterinary assistance

should be sought. This should be done as soon as it is obvious that the . presentation is not normal and at least within six hours of the beginning of

labour. Unskilled interference exhausts the cow and makes the veterinarian’s task more difficult or even impossible. Veterinary assistance should also be sought if the cows do not clean within 48 hours. Do not hang weights on the afterbirth.

FEEDING AFTER CALVING

Autumn-saved pasture is the best food for newly calved cows, but it must be grazed in small breaks which the

cows will clean up in about two hours. They should continue to receive as much silage as they will

eat and if the pasture is short and sappy, they should also receive hay.

CALF REARING

Calves should be fed their own mothers’ milk for at least the first two days. This is important, as the first milk, known as colostrum or “beastings”, contains sub-

stances which increase a calf’s resistance to scours. Jersey calves need 7 pints daily of whole milk for two to three weeks and

, thereafter this quantity or its equivalent in skim milk (2 gallons) will suffice until weaned. As soon as calves are proficient bucket feeders the above quantities can be fed once a day. If scours occur, a supply of a sulpha drug should be obtained from a veterinarian immediately, as the drug is very effective when used promptly. Calves should not be kept in a calf paddock. When two to three weeks of age they should be rotationally grazed ahead of the cows. This will ensure that they always have access to good fresh pasture, which they will eat readily. Where good pasture is available calves can be weaned quite satisfactorily at eight weeks. Further information about the good rearing of dairy stock is contained in the Department’s Bulletin No. 228 (Is. 6d.).

REDWATER IN CALVES

If calves are being lost from redwater (leptospirosis), a veterinary surgeon should be called to

treat affected animals and to advise on prevention of further losses by the use

of protective serum or vaccination.

MASTITIS

Milk from each quarter should be examined with a strip cup before milking. If it shows any abnormality,

or if the udder appears in-

flamed, treatment with penicillin should be begun

at once. Three tubes of 25,000 units should be injected at 24hour intervals, even if the milk appears normal after the first tube. Prompt treatment early in lactation will often save a quarter which otherwise might become weak or even blind.

SELECTION OF CALVES FOR REPLACEMENT

The full sisters of high-producing heifers should always be kept, as should the daughters of Merit Sires with a high progeny test. Provided they are sturdy, the calves

of very old cows with good life-time performance should always be kept, and there is no reason why the calves of well bred heifers should not be kept.

The heifer twin of a bull calf should never be kept. Twin heifers especially if they are born early in the season, may be kept with safety, provided they are not too small.

CARE OF LAMBING EWES

About 10 per cent of all lambs are either born dead or die during the first week. These losses can be reduced by careful shepherding. Many lambs and some ewes can

be saved by skilled assistance during lambing. Always use a reliable lubrieating antiseptic on hands and wrists.

Faulty presentations must be corrected. A lamb should never be forcibly pulled away when a leg or its head is turned back. A number of lambs die from suffocation through the cleanings remaining over their nostrils; these are very easily removed.

Where necessary lambs should be assisted to get a drink. This is particularly important where ewes have very large teats. Drawing

away a few squirts from these will reduce their size and enable the new-born lambs to suckle. Ewes with very large teats, very small teats, badly placed teats, or defective udders should be marked for culling. A big percentage of their lambs will die. Many lambs which die during

cold or wet weather would survive if they got a good drink soon after birth.

STERILITY IN COWS

If difficulty was experienced in getting cows in calf last summer, now is the time to seek veterinary advice with a view to preventing similar trouble this year. Facilities for diagnosing infectious in-

fertility are available at both Wallaceville and Ruakura. Specimens must be submitted through veterinarians or Livestock

Instructors. Effective control depends on accurate diagnosis.