Flank application for bloat control.

Abstract

FLANK APPLICATION FOR BLOAT CONTROL C.L. FLYNN*, K.E. FLYNN+, R.H. LABY**, and D.T. RYAN+. Flank application with paraffin oil and/or tallow decreased both mild and severe bloat in a field trial with dairy cattle. Teric 16~22 ester controlled both levels of bloat to a lesser level, but controlled all bloat for some high susceptibility cows. There was evidence of cows associating licking of oil with bloat cure, which was not apparent with the ester. I. INTRODUCTION The most widely practiced method of bloat control in Australia is application of paraffin oil or an oil/tallow mi%ture to the flank of the animal. These are only anti-foaming agents, i,e, curatives whereas Teric 16~22 ester, being a detergent, is a bloat preventative, This trial aimed at comparing Teric 16~22 ester to oil/tallow in order to improve this traditional bloat control method@ II, I?Uil'ERUS MD MEllRODS .A Rochester (Vic) farmer*s herd was divided into control, oil treated and ester treated groups according to bloat occurrence in a pre-treatment period. Groups were treated at milking and scored twice daily as either nil, mild or severe bloat; Normal fazm grazing rotation was followed throughout the trial. III. RESUTTPS The trial has indicated: (i) Both oil and Teric 16A22 ester decreased mild and severe bloat, (ii) Oil controlled severe bloat better than Teric 16~22 ester, (iii) Teric 16~22 ester controlled all bloat for some high suscept$iiity cowso. ows associated licking of oil with bloat cure. This was not evident in the ester group. IV. DISCXJSSION The apparent medication wisdom drenching trials. not mean this is bloat .risk to some conditions, superiority of the oil over the ester may be due to since the ester is a better bloat preventative from The reduction of bloat incidence in this trial does a satisfactory technique as cows are still under extent, so deaths may still occur under severe bloat * D,H,A. (Rural) .Pty,Ltd, Moorabbin, Victoria, Victorian Department of Agriculture. + H CSIRO Division of Animal physiology, Clayton, Victoria. 31P