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Show SUGGESTIONS FOR GARGET CONTROL (By E. J. Perry, Extension Specialist New Jersey State College of Agriculture Agri-culture In Dairying.) The three most troublesome diseases dis-eases thai attack dairy cows are tu bcrcuiosis, abortion, and garget. Ah solute cures for any of these seem to be Impossible, but an attempt at pre ventlon or further spread is very much worthwhile. In some cases there Is probably a relationship between garget, or mastitis, and feeding. At any rate the subject of garget con Irol seems worthy of mention in these columns, because the Insidious germs of ill's disease have ruined production in many well-fed herds. Through the feeding service conducted in the Dairymen's league News, Dr. H. J. Metzger, of Cornell university, lias recently made some suggestions on the control of this (rouble which the writer believes are very practical and timely. These observations and rec oniniendatious follow: "Because garget so frequently results re-sults In a great loss to the dairyman, dairy-man, and the treatment of the disease dis-ease is so often unsatisfactory, very careful consideration should be glv en to the prevention of the disease. In handling a case of garget It should be remembered that: 1. Most all cases of garget are caused by some germ growing In the milk and udder tissues. 2. Every drop of milk from a dls eased quarter contains millions of germs capable of causing garget In another udder. 8. The chief way In which these germs enter the udder Is through the opening of the teat, 4. Such things as heavy protein feeding, bruises, lying on the cold floors, and Irregularity or delay In milking, will not alone cause garget. They will weaken the udder, however, how-ever, making It much easier for germs already present to cause the disease. The most successful way to handle a case of garget is to treat It seriously seri-ously from the very start. The simplest sim-plest appearing case may become serious seri-ous if neglected. When a case of garget is discovered : 1. If possible, remove the cow from the herd. This will reduce the danger of the disease spreading to other cows. 2. Milk the diseased udder only after milking the remainder of the herd. 3. Milk the well quarters first. Dip the ends of the teats in a weak solution solu-tion of disinfectant before milking the diseased quarter. 4. Do not milk the diseased quarter on the floor. It should be milked in a pall and the milk should be thrown out where the cows cannot lie in it. 6. Reduce the feed. It Is generally advisable to cut all grain from the ration for the first day or day and a half. 6 It is generally a wise precaution precau-tion to give the cow a laxative (one-half (one-half or three-fourths of a pound of epsora salts.) 7. Milking the affected quarters as often as possible greatly reduces the danger of the Infection spreading through the udder. This may be done as often as every three hours. 8. Rub the udder mildly with hot water at least twice a day." |
