SEASONAL WORK ON THE FARM

HOW TO TREAT RINGWORM IN CALVES Ringworm in calves is sometimes troublesome, especially in poorly nourished calves. The Department of Agriculture recommends that before any remedy is applied the scales should be removed by rubbing in a mixture of equal parts of soft soap and lard and scraping off the softened scabs the next day. The bare patches should then be dressed with an ointment consisting of 1 part of salicylic acid and 8 parts of lard, or any registered stock remedy for ringworm which is available. As the infection can be transmitted to man, it is wise to wear rubber gloves when treating ringworm. In any case the hands and arms should be thoroughly washed immediately after the dressings are applied.

MATING OF DAIRY COWS Before each cow is mated two heat periods or an interval of at least 30 days should be allowed after calving. Cows mated before this period are less likely to get in calf, and the chances of contaminating the bull are increased. Hand mating should be practised and accurate records kept showing the bull used and the dates of all services. Should breeding trouble occur, these records will be of considerable assistance in arriving at a correct diagnosis.

TREATING BLOWFLY STRIKE IN EWES In districts where crutch strike causes trouble in ewes, crutching or early shearing is advised by the Department of Agriculture. 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 soiled wool away from the immediate vicinity of the strike. Dressings containing aldrin, dieldrin, or BHC will rapidly kill the maggots, which will be expelled from the wound. In addition treatment with either aldrin or dieldrin preparations will prevent restrike until dipping if this is done in January. These dressings do not prevent the flies blowing the sheep with eggs, but they do prevent the maggots from hatching and causing a strike. Irritant fluids such as kerosene should not be used; they may kill the maggots, but they will irritate the wound and tend to cause restrike. Jetting ewes is not usually necessary, but if fly strike is severe, it may be advisable to treat them to give protection until dipping. Apply ½ gallon of aldrin or dieldrin wash to the crutch of each animal, extending the wetted area to above and round the tail. A pump working at 40lb to 60lb pressure per square inch, with a hand cutout on the nozzle, is advisable for this purpose. Jetting with aldrin or dieldrin at 0.05 per cent will give 2 month's complete protection against crutch strike; for longer protection 0.1 per cent should be used.

BLOOD POISONING AFTER SHEARING Deaths of sheep 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. Sheep which have been vaccinated previously may not require revaceination, and a veterinarian or Livestock Instructor of the Department of Agriculture should be consulted about the best procedure.

A MODEL FOR EVERY PURPOSE Wheel & Crowler Models Petrol & Diesel Engines DAVID BROWN WORLD'S FINEST TRACTORS Easy terms. Full range of matched implements. See your David Brown Dealer. N.Z. Distributors TODD BROS. LTD.,Wellington