DISEASES IN STOCK

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 231, 13 July 1935, Page 3

DISEASES IN STOCK

TROUBLES AT LAMBING PERIOD ADDRESS TO FARMERS’ UNION. An interesting address on the diseases affecting sheep at the present time was given to the Ashburton branch of the New Zealand banners’ Union yesterday afternoon by Mr J. W. Smith (Stock Inspector at Ashburton). The president (Mr J. H. Harper) presided over a small attendance and welcomed Mr Smith.

The speaker referred to troubles affecting ewes at lambing time, stressing the causes and means of allaying “aopiness.” Ine principal need to keep sheep free from the disease was a balanced ration, tnat whs one comprising roods or substances which produced both fat and heat. “Dopiness’ was noticed mainly on the low land winere be 041* was abundant and there was not sufficient exercise. The trouble was not found in tile high localities, for the sheep were ion the move ad the time in their search for food, it was to be regretted and deplored that often the breeding ernes were “rejects” farmers could not hope to keep up the standard of their flocks if they did not retain good ewes for breeding. As it was at present, low-conditioned sheep were producing the lambs, and.consequently mortality might be high both among the ewes and the lambs. “A sound constitution is essential at this time of the year,” continued Mr Smith. “The critical period is that when the ewe is carrying its lamb and for a few months from the time the lamb is born. Before birth the lamb is deriving its food from the bloodstream of the ewe, and later from the milk. Consequently the blood and tne milk Should be of the best to give tiie lamb the best possible start in life. The constitution should receive careful attention so that botli ewe and lamb can withstand the ravages of disease. Doctors who are constantly coming into contact with cases of disease seldom contract the trouble. If the constitution • is satisfactory the body naturally secretes the toxin which wards off disease.” Sheep with weak constitutions were predisposed to disease. A shortage ox dry feed found ewes affected with parasites, ancl it was very necessary for sheep on turnips or green feed to have access to' dry feed. The speaker said the animals must have long feed if the stomach action was to be completed and the greatest benefit derived from the feed. Therefore there should bo straw with the crushed! oats. Oat sheaves were preferable to chaff because the food was ill a more natuial form, and the waste attributed to ieeuing the sheaves could be eliminated with care. Mr Smith also spoke biielly of worms, and said in the next few months there might be a heavy ntoitality from this cause. He also stated that if farmers kept more of their ewe lambs in the future they would be bringing no diseases from other districts or other farms. Mr It. Houston said he had always maintained that station cues wcio better than farmer’s ewes. Mr Smith said that .nevertheless station owners would be sending down their weaker sheep. When these reached the plains they would “bloom, but this was only a temporary spark, and they were not sis good ns the sheep bred oil the property. An apparently well-conditioned ewe might be subject to. the paralysis because of an unbalanced ration. Its appearance was not always indicative of its constitution. Prior to lambing, thin ewes often got down on the ground only through weakness, and then paralysis was brought on through lying down in contact with the ground.

A vote of thanks by acclamation was accorded Mr Smith on the motion of Mr J. Lowery, who said it was a pity that more farmers were not present.