A NEW SHEEP DISEASE.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 148, 21 June 1912, Page 9

A NEW SHEEP DISEASE.

ITS PROBABLE CAUSE. iAt the recent Provincial Agricultural Conference in Wellington, a rather important matter came up for discussion, namely, a disease in sheep which had not previously been noticed. It was an experienced Wanganui sheep-farmer who brought the matter under official notice. In his opinion, the disease, from which there had been a fairly heavy mortality in his portion of the district, resembled that known as "the gids." Describing the symptoms, Mr. Reakes, the Government Chief Veterinary, stated fchat the affected sheep travelled round and round in a small circle, then paralysis intervened, followed by death. The trouble was. akin to indigestion suffered by human beings, but the latter could take steps to afford relief. Sheep had to suffer in silence. On making a postmortem, he had discovered a process of fatty degeneration going on. The digestive organs revealed certain disturbances indicating that food was not being properly digested. Fermentation in the bowels caused certain gases to be produced, which affected the brain, culminating in paralysis. He would strongly advise flock masters with sick sheep showing the symptoms which be had described, to transfer them promptly into fresh pastures of short grass. The trouble could be overcome by management easier than by treating a flock medicinally, the latter course Deiug a big undertaking, but, in the case of valuable stud sheep, prompt relief could be obtained from doses of Epsom salts (3 to 4 ozs), which cleansed the 'bowels and relieved the pressure of blood on the brain. Mr. Reakes further explained that the disease in question was largely the result of the season, which had -caused a rank growth of grass, and in consequence the sheep had to i;at this growth instead of the tfhort quickly-grown grass they preferred, -and this was the cause of the digestive disturbance. The simplest and most practicable remedy for this rank gro-wth, in Mr. Reakes' opinion, was to graze the pastures down with cattle. It is not, however, easy for the small farmer to drj this. If lie seeks lo buy cattle now, he would have to pay a very high price for them, and possibly have to" sell them at less than he gave for them. A few breeding cows would, to some extent, serve the purpose, and bring in a little to augment the yearly income. The expert reminded those whom he was addressing that, as a rule, cows are great eaters, and are not in any way dainty as to their food. Sheep, on the" other hand, must have short fresh grass to do well, so the two classes of stock go well together. From various experiments carried out under the supervision of the Department, and from the experience of practical farmers, the conclusion had been arrived at that there should be at least one beast to eight acres, besides the sheep. Most farm 3 can carry moTe than this and yet improve the sheep feed. The halfwithered, rank grass can then be eaten off, and the pa-sture got into good order. This year, however, was a complete contrast to last season. Then there was no cattle feed at all, and everything was eaten over, and yet the sheep did well. But in many districts during the past season the growth of grass ■ had be«n exceptionally rank, watery, and innutritious. and on that account, and under those conditions, sheep had fared badly. Mr. Reakes' advice is well worth "iving careful consideration to. under similar prevailing conditions, at any future t'mc.