FARMERS' UNION.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 54, Issue 256, 10 August 1934, Page 6

FARMERS' UNION.

THE ASHBURTON BRANCH. The Ashburton branch of the_ New Zealand Farmers' Union met this afternoon, when Mr J. H. Harper presided over a small attendance. Replying to a letter from the branch, the Minister Of Agriculture (the Hon. C. E. MacMillan) advised that in the South Island superphosphate was sold on' a somewhat different basis from the North Island in that a fixed charge was made for. delivery at certain specified places, whereas sales in the North Island were made on a f-o.r. basis at the works, the purchaser being required to meet the railage charges to the actual point of delivery. Other factors affecting the price in. the South Island were slightly higher commission rates and smaller output.

The letter was received. The Ashburton branch of the Women's Division of the Union invited members to its birthday party this evening.

DISEASES OF STOCK. ADDRESS BY MR J. W- SMITH. Mr J. W. Smith (Stock Inspector at Ashburton) gave an address on diseases in stock to members of the Ashburton branch of 1 the Farmers' Union. Boys from the Ashburton High and Technical High Schools were also present. Mr Smith said he wished to confine his remarks to two diseases which attacked pregnant ewes, for at the present time both of these would probably appear in sheep in some parts of the County. Speaking of the protrusion of the vagina, which often occurred when the ewe was abnormally fat, the lecturer said this was caused by undue bladder pressure. At this stage the owe was not very active and the bladder pressure resulted. Urinal poisoning was liable to follow if this protrusion was not attended to. He described how this could be carried out and stressed the importance of the use of disinfectant in this connection. A good means of preventing a protrusion was putting the ewes on their feet at intervals, particularly in the evening. The trouble sometimes occurred beforo lambing and sometimes afterwards.

Referring to what was known as "sleeping sickness" among ewes, Mr Smith said this was allied to the previous disease. If pregnant ewes had plenty of exercise, there would not be the lambing troubles that the farmer had to contend with. On the hill country, the disease was not as common as on the plains because the ewes had of necessity to exercise 111 search of food. On the plains where food was plentiful and the ewe did not have to walk tar to secure- it, it was soon m a condition which was conductive to this form of paralysis. If the ewe's ration during the winter was well balanced it would be in good form at tho critical period of lambing. Green feed and heat-pro-during food should be judiciously mixed In passing, Mr Smith said he did not consider chaff was very suitable as a heat-producer. Hay and straw were the best because they were longer. Chaff was too short for cuddmg He was also in favour of small quantities of grain being fed to the sheep, lhe first signs of the trouble were when ewes began to lag behind and became inactive. If the symptoms were recognised early enough, molasses or Epsom salts were useful but if the disease was in an advanced stage the ewe would probably choke when theso liquids were given. Another treatment if the beast was in good condition was bleeding from about an inch below the eye on each side, and the inflating of tho udder. The beast had to be nursed properly, and the speaker said that it should be given every attention if it was to recover When the beast was lying down it should lie in a natural position and be given plenty of straw to lie ,011. In at least 95 per cent, of cases ewes suffering from "sleeping sickness had twin lambs. Last year, when much hand feeding was done, the disease was fairly prevalent in the County. Mr Smith, reminded farmers that if the ewe was in low condition and was practically starving itself to develop its unborn lamb, exercise would certainly not improve its position, biit rather further reduce its' condition. Exercise was only for the animals in good condition. ' Mentioning that for the past 50 years the minerals that went to produce tho bone in the animal had been taken from the land, the lecturer said it was time farmers replaced these chemicals by the use of phosphates (bouemeal), lime, salt and sulphur. Mr Smith said that the constitution of sheep generally was gradually declining because the best lambs were sent to the freezing works. Farmers were not retaining the vitality of .their sheep, and consequently disease crept in and the animals had not the constitution to resist. Several questions wero answered, and a vote of thanks was then passed to the lecturer, on the motion of Mr W. T. Lill.