The ranch. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1902-1914, 1908-07-15
PREVENTING MILK FEVER.

PREVENTING MILK FEVER.
The bureau of animal industry of
the Department of Agriculture under
the head of prevention of Milk Few
er" SAYS 1t has long been advocated
to starve all suspected animals for two
weeks prior to the birth of the calf. 1t
is frequently noted that this has an in
furious effect on the milk flow OF the
animal from which it may require sew
eral weeks for her to recover and gain
her normal output of milk. This meas
ure is no longer considered advisable
as it is better to have COWS attacked
with the disease once in While (the
mortality being less than 5 per cent?
than to decrease the flow from every
heavy milking COW, for one to three
weeks after she comes fresh, by starV-
ing her before calving.
A method which is not quite so sure
of reducing the plethoric condition OF
the COW, but which nevertheless proves
very efficient and is without the slight
est permanent injurious effect, is the
administration of one pound OF EPSON
salts two or three days prior to calv-
inc. In case this has been neglected
and a we'll nourished heavy milking
COW has passed through an easy, non
exhausting calf birth, the administra-
ton of the salts after the labor is over
should by no means be neglected.
Rloodletting has also been advocated
Int there is always that danger OF eX-
citing the blood-making organs TO ex-
cessive activity thus largely neutrallz
ing the effect. 1t should, therefore, De
resorted to only when the COW is eX-
tremely fat, is heavy mixer ana mas
had one or more previous attacks. Inc
blood should be drawn from the Jugu-
lar vein until the pulse softens percep..
tibly, IL pints for every 100 pounds OF
the animals body weight being ABOUT
the right amount.
Another very good preventive meas
ure and one easily carried out, though
frequently overlooked, is to give the
COW plenty of exercise up to the time
of calving. Many animals are allowed
to run continuously on pastures from
the time they go dry until week OF
two before calving, when they are
transferred to the stable without any
subsequent exercise. This is very con-
ducive to the enriching OF the blood
and the development of the disease.
The most recent preventive measure
suggested is in line with the 1aVorap!e
results obtained by the injection OF ar
into the udder. 1t consists IN allowing
the susceptible COW to retain in the ud-
der for "a hours after calving all the
milk except the small quantity re-
CURED for the calf, which should be
taken if possible from each quarter
The distention of the udder naturally
fellows as in the air treatment and acts
as a preventive against milk fever. In
the Island of Jersey and at the Blu
more farms where this practice is COM
mon. the number of milk fever cases
las been generally lessened. General
sanitary conditions should be looked
after. such as the supply OF pure air
end clean stabling with plenty OF clear
cool water and laxative feeds, such as
grasses and roots. Some observers
who believe in the microbic origin OF
the disease have recommended the
cleaning of the manure and Dirt from
The animal and spraying the hlndquar-
ters and genitals with a to per
cent solution of carbolic acid, lysol'
creolin or coal tar disinfectants just
nrior to calving. From our present
knowledge of the disease, however,
that is probably unnecessary.