STATION’S STOCK PROBLEMS

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 29070, 5 December 1959, Page 8

STATION’S STOCK PROBLEMS

Selenium And Sulphur Of Value

Readers will be interested to know that Mr C. B. Hercus, manager of the New Zealand and Australian Land Company’s Hakataramea station in South Canterbury, believes that he may be well on the way to a solution of the station’s white muscle and illthrift troubles. In 1958 about 45 per cent, of the hoggets on the property died from a complaint which Mr Hercus believes was bacterial.

At the moment it seems that use of selenium and the application of sulphur at 351 b to 401 b to the acre may be the twin life-savers of stock on the station.

“At the Lincoln College conference in May I spoke of the encouraging results which we had had with the application of sulphur,” said Mr Hercus this week. “. . . last autumn at

crutching it was obvious that ewes grazing on areas treated with sulphur were in much better order than those ewes which were on untreated grass. Before putting the rams out we made sure that ewes still on improved pastures were grazed on sulphur-treated areas. Because of the high percentage of barren ewes in 1958—only a few more than 5 per cent, of the two-tooths produced lambs—most of the dry ewes were run on the tussock during last summer.

"No dry ewe problem showed up this spring, but it was obvious that ewes held on the improved country lambed better by probably 10 per cent., and clipped more wool than ewes grazing on the native, and where some ewes doing poorly on the improved country were transferred to the native and kept from the ram they showed no improvement at all. Selenium Trial “Last autumn the Department of Agriculture began a trial with 1000 ewes of mixed ages off both improved and unimproved country. Five hundred were given a monthly oral dose of selenium and 500 were kept as controls with both groups being run together in the same mob.

“At shearing in September there was no obvious difference between the two groups but when all individual fleeces were weighed it was found that in addition to the selenium-treated ewes giving wool of a markedly improved quality, the average wool weight a sheep was also higher. “All dead lambs in the two groups were post-mortemed by the Department of Agriculture. No white muscle was found in lambs from ewes given selenium, but a few lambs in the control

I ewe mob showed signs of the disease. “At marking* when lambs from these two groups of ewes were all weighed individually it was found that lambs from the selenium-treated ewes were heavier by an average of slightly better than 4Jlb. Control Group “At the end of October lambs in the control group became badly affected with white muscle and some of the ewes in the group also began to deteriorate in condition. The lambs were mustered and, apart from some controls, were given orally lee of selenium. The effect was most spectacular. Within five days these lambs were transformed from a typically unthrifty condition to being sappy and full of bloom.

“At this stage it was possible to pick by eye ewes which had' been given selenium and those which were untreated. In the control group, about 5 per cent, of the ewes showed signs of deterioration in condition. “On November 14, there was a lamb dead from white muscle in the group of, ewes treated with selenium, several more lambs were showing typical symptoms of the disease, and the lambs in general in this group were showing signs of losing something of their bloom and thrift. However, the »disease was nearly three weeks later in showing up where the ewes had been treated with selenium, and it was much less widespread. “It is of interest to note here that white muscle disease, has occurred this season, apart from possibly one case in 1000 lambs, on areas where the application'of sulphur was less than 351 b to the acre. Pastures sown out last season with sulphurised super al IJcwt to the acre, and older areas where 151 b of sulphur was applied to the acre were affected. I regret now that some of the pastures sown last year were not sown out with 401 b of sulphur to

the acre. But even where there has been no white muscle disease on sulphur-treated areas, lambs treated with selenium have made outstanding weight gains. Due to seasonal variations it could take years to confirm or contradict the role of sulphur, and from our point of view in the light of present knowledge it is probably not worthwhile trying to find a conclusive answer.

Clover “As for the generally held opinion that clover is a predisposing factor for white muscle, due to the dry cold weather this spring, clover growth has been very poor, and the disease has occurred on almost pure grass pastures.

“In the past season we did not have any worry with hoggets. All wintered well and apart from some anxious rhoments in the spring of 1958 when lambs started to pack up at six weeks of age no trouble was experienced. Perhaps the light lambing proved a blessing by allowing us scope to continually shift ewes and lambs so that the trouble could be halted.”

Summarising the results of his experience Mr Hercus says: “(1) On known sulphur deficient areas application of sulphur will prove beneficial to stock health, but it is doubtful whether it will prove adequate in preventing white muscle disease although it apparently gives some measure of control.

"(2) Selenium will prevent white muscle from developing and outbreaks of the disease can be controlled by oral administration of 1 c.c. of selenium to lambs. "(3) Where white muscle disease has been occurring spectacular gains in lamb weights can be expected after administration of 1 c.c. of selenium. “(4) In localities where there is a long history of white muscle disease, under certain climatic conditions with rapid growth secondary diseases become prevalent. These can prove more disastrous than white muscle itself.” Results When all ' trials at present in orogress are studied and analysed Mr Hercus believes that the Department of Agriculture is likely to be able to give clear and interesting information and at the same time some specific recommendations.

Like many others who have had experience with selenium, Mr Hercus stresses its extremely toxic nature and the danger of it being handled by someone not familiar with its use.