The Butler weekly times and the Bates County record. (Butler, Mo.) 1918-1950, 1919-07-03
Look Out for Clover Bloat.

That Missouri farmers must look
out for FLOATING" among cattle, now
running on clover pastures, is the
warning of State Veterinarian DR.. q.
F. Luckey of the Missouri Board of
Agriculture. The weather in many
sections has been favorable for the
abnormal growth of clovers.
The danger from clover bloating is
greatest on damp, cool days when
clover is fresh and palatablc. The
"rumen" Cor paunch) becomes over
loaded, and fermentation causes an
abnormally rapid generation of gas. Z.
The symptoms usually develop in a
very short time. A cow may be in
dangerous condition in a half-hour
after eating heartily of white or other
clover. Frequently, the bloating is
so intense as to produce death before
treatment can be given. The rumen
becomes so distended with gas as to
press forward on the lungs, making
it impossible for the beast to inhale
air, literally smothering it to death.
The principal prevention is to
keep cattle off of rank clover pas
lures, especially early in the morning,
after showers, or during damp and
cool days. Such pastures must be
used with care. 1t has been claimed
that feeding dry wheat straw, or
cured hay, will tend to prevent bloat-
ing when cattle are turned on clover
pastures. There is no question but
what this will help some, but it can
not be counted on as a sure prevent
i've of bloating.
Some dry feed should be given
when cattle are pasturing upon rank
growth of clover. In addition, lib
eral quantity Of freshly burned char
coal should be kept before the cattle.
Burn charcoal every two or three
days, powder it, add little salt and
leave where cattle may lick at will.
There rs practically no danger of
overlooking charcoal, and this will
help lot in preventing bloat. In
some cases bloating will occur even
when cattle are kept off clover until
noon. There is no absolute means
of prevention of bloat when cattle
Craze on clover.
The curative treatment for bloating
depends on the condition of the ami
NAL when found. In many cases the
brute is found dead, in others in con-
ditionsto die in a few minutes. Treat
ment must be administered prompt
ly. In acute cases, there is no time
for giving medicine. The only suc-
cessful treatment is to puncture the
rumen and let the gas out. Unless
this is done promptly, death may re-
suit. The trochar is the proper thing
to use. and should be cleansed and
disinfected, as should the hair and
skin where it is to be inserted. Use,
the necessary force and drive the
trochar into the rumen on the lett
side, at place several inches forward
and downward from the point of the
hip, where you will find a drum-likc
condition.
In some instances the trochar will
not be available, and there will be- no
time for cleaning and disinfection.
In such an emergency, do not hesi-
tate to use pocketknife, or even a
buacherknife. Let the gas out, or the
cow will die. If these crude instru-
ments are to be used, the opening
should be quite large. Use the big
blade of the pocketknife, and then cut
the hole just little bit larger, so
the gas escapes freely. This opera
lion is not particularly dangerous,
and should not be delayed when the
life ofthe bovine is in danger.