11 Makch, 1918.] Reminders for Aj)ril. 191 



REIVUNDERS fOR flPRIU. 



LIVE STOCK, 



Horses. — Those stabled should be fed liberally. Food of a more stimulating 

 nature can now be given to get them well over the " changing coat " season. 

 Those doing fast or heavy work should be clipped; if not wholly, then trace 

 high. The legs should not be clipped. Those not rugged on coming into the 

 stable at night sweating freely should be wiped down and in half-an-hour 's 

 time rugged or covered with bags until the coat is dry. Yearling colts if 

 vigorous and well grown may be castrated. Weaned foals should have a 

 little crushed oats daily, if available. Horses to be turned out during winter 

 should not be clipped. Their mouths and feet should be examined and attended 

 to where necessary. 



Sheep. — Merino and fine cross ewes, if they have been mated early, will 

 lamb from now on. Those in lamb to the larger British breeds of rams will 

 give a certain amount of trouble in lambing. 



Close attention should be given morning and evening to save every 

 lamb possible, and any ewes that may lie cast. If the ewes are well- 

 woolled sorts, they will need erutching for fly, at the same time clear 

 wool from around teats, and away from the eyes also. If the ewes are 

 attentive mothers any lambs that are found dead after these precautions, apart 

 from weather conditions, foxes, &c., are just as well gone. Give purgative 

 drenches at first sight of ewes appearing ill in any way. Give warm salad 

 oil to any lambs that are dull in appearance. Ewes after difficult parturition 

 or retention of after-birth can often be saved by flushing out with i oz. Lysol to 

 3 pints warm water. Reserve fresh pasture, or better still, sow a mixed green 

 crop to turn ewes into later on, but not while carrying the lambs, this is too often 

 injurious. On fine mornings when attending ewes, if feed is plentiful and ewes 

 strong castrate as many ram lambs as possible, they are easily caught when two 

 or three days old. Place them between the feet on the ground, no holder is 

 necessary. In districts where conditions make second dipping a necessity, see 

 that it is done before the weather becomes too unsettled. 



Cattle. — As the nights become colder the dairy cows should be rugged. The 

 rugs should be removed in day-time when the shade temperature reaches 60 

 decrees. If new grass is plentiful, aive a ration of hay. or straw, whole or 

 chaffed, to counteract the purging effects of young grass. It will be found 

 profitable to give a few pounds of bran, crushed oats or pollymeal in addition to 

 other feed, to all cows giving a fair quantity of milk. Read article by Mr. B. A. 

 Barr, " Food Values and Rations," in Journal for September, 1916. Algerian 

 oats should be sown on suitable land for grazing oflF in the winter. Sow a 

 mixture of oats, rye, and tares or peas for winter fodder or to fill silos. Only 

 exceptional cows or those required for city milk supply should be served between 

 now and July. Within the next two or three months is the best time for cows 

 to calve, as they will pay to feed through the winter, give the best returns for 

 the season, and be dry when the feed is dry and at its worst. Calves should 

 have lucerne hay or crushed oats when crass is not plentifful. 



Pigs. — Sows not already served should be put to the boar. Supply all pigs 

 with plenty of bedding, and see that sties are warm and well ventilated. Supply 

 sows liberally with grain. Castrate young boars as early as possible. Pigs 

 should be highly profitable now, as feed is cheap, and pork very dear. Rape, 

 barley (especially skinless), oats, &c., may be sown for grazing during winter. 



Poultry. — Uo not feed maize this month — soft food aids moult ; add a 

 teaspoonful of linseed to each bird's ration once daily. The more exercise the 

 hens get the better they moult. Remove all male birds from pens. Add to 

 drinking water one packet Epsom salts to twenty birds. Keep a sharp look out 

 for chicken pox. Forward pullets should now be in their winter quarters, with 

 plenty of scratching litter, and fed liberally — including ration of animal food. 

 Grit shell and charcoal should always be available. 



