Yets
HARRISBURG - The sale
and use of dimethyl
sulfoxide often for self
medication purposes, has
increased dramatically
despite warnings by the FDA
that there may be risks
involved in using the in
dustrial grade product,
cautioned on DMSO sales
reports the Pa Veterinary
Medical Association.
The recent upsurge in
interest in the so-called
"wonder drug” has brought
pressure on veterinarians to
sell DMSO animal products
for uses other than
veterinary medicine.
However, veterinarians
should be aware that the
penalty for illegally selling
veterinary drugs is up to a
year in prison and a $l,OOO
fine on each count for a first
offense.
DMSO began to attract
attention as a therapeutic
agent in 1961 when it was
discovered that the drug
could penetrate the skin
rapidly and carry other
drugs into the blood.
Since then, DMSO has
been said by some to be an
effective treatment for
conditions ranging from
arthritis to mental retar
dation in humans.
Recent television reports
showing people who claim to
have benefited from the drug
have also boosted the in
terest in DMSO.
The FDA is concerned
about the risks that may
result in us mg industrial
grade DMSO (which is of
unknown purity and quality)
and in using any DMSO in
high concentrations, large
amounts or. for unapproved
uses. The drug has been
approved for only a limited
number of medicinal uses
A 50 percent solution is
approved for the treatment
of interstitial cystitis m
humans and a 90 percent
solution is approved for
topical treatment of horses
and dogs to reduce acute
swelling due «.o trauma.
Other claims for the drug’s
use have not been sub
stantiated.
Veterinarians are advised
to refrain from selling
DMSO and should use it with
caution in their practice The
drug should not be used on
animals intended for food or
for breeding because of
potential embryonic
malformations.
Soybean growers to meet
ST LOUIS, Mo. -
Production management
innovations to help soybean
producers increase profits m
the 80s is the theme of the
American Soybean
Association sponsored In
novations 80s Conference to
be held February 19 and 20 at
the Holiday Inn Rivermont
m Memphis.
The two-day conference is
open to all soybean
producers whether or not
they are members of the
American Soybean
Association. Conference
speakers mclude farmers,
soybean researchers and
company representatives
who will discuss application
of innovative management
practices for doublecrop
ping, sobd seeding, water
management, weed and
Lancaster Farming, Saturday, January 31,1981—87
Feeder pig mgt.
tips for profit
NEWARK, Del. - What
can a hog producer do to give
feeder pigs a better chance
for profit-making?
Richard Fowler, Exten
sion livestock specialist for
the University of Delaware,
provides the following tips:
Isolate animals in your
starting facility from other
pigs either by using another
building or by using a solid
dividing wall between pens
The facility should be dry
and draft-free, with a
temperature of 75 degrees It
should also be clean and
disinfected.
Check animals carefully
when they arrive at your
farm. If you bought them
through a graded sale,
record and file the name of
the seller, ear tag numbers,
and date and weight of pigs
when purchased.
Let pigs rest, feed and
drink fresh water for 8 to 12
hours. Add medication to the
water after this adjustment
period.
Size pigs and place 25-50 to
a pen Remove all sick
animals to a hospital pen and
treat them promptly. Don’t
overcrowd Allow four
square feet for 30-50 pound
pigs and five square feet for
50-80 pounders Provide one
waterer for each 25 pigs.
Medicate the water the
first week. yVater
medications of the sulfa
insect control, variety
selection and new tillage
practices.
The conference opens at 1
p.m. Thursday, February 19
and will conclude by noon on
Friday February 20.
The $2O registration fee
($25 for non-members) in
cludes a copy of the 80-page
printed program
proceedings, a banquet
dinner and entertainment on
Thursday evening and
Elanco
to talk
BLUE BALL - The
Eastern Lancaster County
School District, Adult
Farmer Program will
sponsor a Tobacco
group with electrolytes
added are effective for
starting medication and
restoring body fluids on
stressed groups. Normally a
40-pound pig drinks a half
gallon of water daily. Use a
flavor enhancer such as
fruit-flavored drink or
dessert mix to encourage
water intake.
If possible use a special
starting ration. Feeder
space should allow four pigs
for each uncovered feeder
hole. Tie up feeder lids for
the first few days.
Pigs do better on feeds
containing 12-14 percent
protein, extra fiber and a
high level of vitamins and
minerals. Formulations are
available from your local
Extension office.
Deworm pigs and treat for
external parasites. If any
signs of disease occur, treat
at once.
If you bought quality
stock, hogs should reach
market weight according to
the following schedule: 40-
pound pig in 110 days; 50-
pound pig in 105 days; 70-
pound pig in 90 days; 100-
pound pig in 70 days
Your profit will depend on
how much you paid for the
pigs, how much it costs you
tcrfirush them, and the price
being paid for pork when
you're ready to sell.
participation in all con
ference activities.
Producers are invited to
bring their wives for an
additional $lO registration
fee.
Special activities for
women include an in
troduction to Memphis,
demonstrations of mountain
music and folk instruments,
a discussion of modern blues
music and a program on self
protection for women.
farmers
tobacco
Management Meeting on
Wednesday evening,
February 4.
Key items to be discussed
will be the use of the newer
insecticides, herbicides, and
fungicides that are labeled
for use on tobacco. A Blue
Mold up-date including the
use of Ridomil will also be
part of the program
Also to be included will be
a discussion of a new variety
of tobacco grown by several
farmers m the New Holland
area m the anticipation that
the variety will soon be
released by Penn State.
Speakers for the evening
will mclude Carl Buchhok
and John Beideman from
Ciba-Geige, Steve Fisher
from FMC and Wayne Marz
from Stauffer Chemical Co.
All interested tobacco
growers are invited to at
tend. The meeting will be
held at 7:30 p.m. on Wed
nesday evening, February
4th at the Union Grove
School. The School is located
two miles north of Route 23
on route 625 between Blue
Ball and Bowmansville
For further information
contact Bob Anderson at 717-
354-9604 evenings, or 2i5-445-
5441 during the day