In the era of Information Technology (IT) and Biotechnology (BT) agriculture and animal husbandry are still considered as backbone of Rural economy in Gujarat. Except for the part of south Gujarat, agriculture is totally dependent on rainfall. Irregular monsoon and regular drought in recent years has paralysed the farmer in Gujarat, esp. in Saurashtra and North Gujarat. In such adverse condition and vagaries of nature, it is dairy farming-animal husbandry which has nourished the farm families and kept their hope of life alive. Banaskantha is no exception to this with 4.4 lacs cattle, 4.5 lacs buffaloes it ranks fifth in the state, while in goat population it ranks second with 4.56 lacs population. As far as milk production is concerned, it ranks third in the state with annual production of 4.9 lacs tons. There are enormous scope to increase production and income through dairy farming it in Banaskantha. What required for dairy farmer is to keep eyes open, to develop proper understanding power, and to adopt right things. We are lucky enough to have at our door step the biggest university of the state, the Gujarat Agricultural University. We are required to adopt the recommendation of the University, only a healthy animal could be productive and useful one. How one can expect good production from unhealthy, weak and sick animals. What could be the measures to keep our animal in good health. Remember “Prevention is better than cure”. Before disease prevail and exaggerate and put you in great economic loss, identify it, control it, prevent it, give timely treatment. You could save a lot, a stitch in time saves nine. Lets know some of the common ailments or diseases of animals.
(1) Indigestion :-
It is a syndrome of many diseases, characterized by :
Lack of runinal movement, weak confltractions.
Anorexia-animal becomes off feed.
Constipation-Contents moderately hard.
Moderate tympany.
First Aid :-
Magnesium Sulphate pulve ginger, Asafoetida, Sodium bicarbonate, Sweet edible oil can be used as household remedy according to severity of the condition.
(2) Impaction :-
Overloading of rumen with feed,
Sudden change in feed, fermented feed, low water intake are the probable causes of impaction.
Characterized by :-
Abdominal pain-colic
Drunken gait.
Mucopurulent discharge
Restlessness kickin
Complete stasis-ruminal movement ceases.
First Aid :-
Magnesium Sulphate, Sod. Bicarbonate, groundnut oil, pulve ginger, asafotida etc. can be used according severity of condition.
(3) Tympany :-
Overdistention of rumen due to excessive accumulation of gases.
May be due to excessive feeding leguminous fodder esp. unrippen first cut lucern and low amount of fibrous feed. May be secondary to choke, TRP, diaphragmatic hernia, poisoning etc.
Characterized by :-
Distention of left flank
High resonance on percussion
Rumen a tonic
Restlessness, kicking on the belly
Dyspnoea
First Aid :-
500 to 750 ml sweet oil, (groundnut oil)
50 to 60 ml turpentine oil with 500 to 750 ml edible oil.
Butter milk + Sodium bicarbonate.
In severe acute condition, puncture the rumen.
Immediate treatment by qualified doctor.
(4) Inflammation of Udder :-
It is a disease of lactating cow, buffalo, sheep, goates and other mammals. In cow and buffalo it has special importance due to high economic loss associated with it.
Injury to teat, unhygienic condition of shed, loose muscles of teat, long pendulous udder, faulty methods of milking, failure of cleanliness on the part of the milkers etc. will permit the entry of infectious agents into udder parenchyma and predispose the udder to infection results into inflammation of udder.
Characterized by :-
Inflammation of mammary tissue.
It is hard and hot to touch.
Milk secretion is scanty. Watery having flakes and finally may be purulent.
Painful milking.
Fever offered and sometime taxaemia.
First Aid :-
Keep animals in clean, dry and well-ventilated place.
Clean the udder before and after milking with antiseptic solution like Dettol, potassium permaganate, a criflavin etc.
Milker should wash their hand and having their nails properly trimmed, free from contagious diseases and healthy.
Early diagnosis and timely treatment.
(5) White Scoure :-
White or greenish yellow diarrhoea, foetid smell, sometimes macousmixed with blood.
Usually calves between 1-2 months are more susceptible.
Unhygienic calf shed, sudden change in environment, poisonous feed, excessive intake of milk, licking other calves and soil.
First Aid :-
Treatment should be given after proper diagnosis of cause and only by qualified veterination.
(6) Esophageal Obstruction :-
Sudden obstruction of the esophagus by food masses or Foreign bodies, characterized by inability in swallowing regurgitation of food and water through nostrils and bloat in ruminants.
Due to deficiency of one or more minerals and other nutrients, animal esp. strayed animals ingest plastic materials, shoes chappals, wooden pieces, mango kernal, in Banaskantha the potatoes which gets blocked in the cervical or thoracic region of the oesophagus.
Characterized by :-
Inhabitity in swallowing
Regurgitation of food and water through nostrils, coughing.
Salivation, protrusion of tongue, restlessness for.
Frequent attempt for vomiting
Grunting
Swelling at the site of obstruction.
First Aid :-
Manually get the material outside after proper controlling and applying mouth gag.
Stomach tube or probing may be used to push the material in the stomach.
(7) Horn Cancer :-
It is common in Gir and kankrage cattle of the Gujarat.
Affected horn is hot to touch.
Animal keeps head down towards affected horn.
On percussion yields dull sound.
Mucopurulent offensive smelling discharge from the nostrils of affected horn.
If not treated it will turn into open wound, condition will deteriorate and animal will die.
Treatment :-
Timely surgical treatment by qualified veterinarian.
(8) Foreign Body:-
Disease of cattle resulting from perforation of reticulum by foreign body.
Cattle buffaloes are compound stomached animals. Along with food materials some time they ingest foreign materials like wire piece, blade, nails, bolt, screw, safety pins, coins, piece of glasses, plastic materials, old shoes. These heavy materials enter the reticulum remain there causing symptoms.
Characterized by :-
Sudden decrease in appetite.
Faecal volume reduced.
Secondary ketosis
Reduced milk yield, sudden drop, very weak ruminal movement.
