Stock health good on plains

Press, 3 December 1982, Page 18

Stock health good on plains

Stock condition and health is generally good in the Central Plains area of Canterbury. although ewes still have a good deal, of weight to make up before tupping next year. Regular rain during October and November has brought on good pasture growth, but the prolonged spell of norwest wind during mid-Novetnber negated much of the good effect of earlier rainfalls. The flock of ewes weighed each month for the Livestock Monitor by M.A.F. farm advisory officer in Darfield. Mr Stuart White, averaged 46.1 kgs at the end of November. This is slightly below the original weight in August of 46.2 kg, but the ewes have lambed and been shorn since that time. The lambs have now been weaned. The average weight at the end of October was 47.7 kgs. but the lambs have since been weaned and the ewes relieved of an average of 3.1 kgs of wool. Mr White comments that the flock contains about 20 per cent of ewes whose weight is below 40 kgs, and are therefore potential culls. A further 20 per cent are over 50 kgs and may be drafted off onto maintenance rations to enable the balance to be kept on better feed. Although the Livestock Monitor hogget flock has been sent away from the district. Mr White estimates that hogget weights in the district are around 40 kgs. One flock averaged 30.7 kgs in September, 35.2 kgs in October and 37.1 kgs on November 10, after which they were shorn of 2.3 kgs of

wool. They should be 40 kgs at present. This is a substantial improvement in hogget liveweights in spite of a very bad year, although both hoggets and ewes have some weight to gain to achieve ideal tupping weights. Mr White commented that feed was reasonably good in the Darfield district and the 30 to 35 mm of rain last week-end was very timely. A return to drought conditions would find most farmers in a bind over conserved feed, he said. A veterinarian with the Malvern Farmers Veterinary Club. Mr Duncan Hargest, said that generally lambs were growing extremely well on the plains, which was a combination of the good spring growing conditions and lower lambing percentages. With regard to stock health, he said it was a period in which increasing' emphasis would have to be given to lamb drenching. "The important thing is the programme rather than the particular drench used." he said. In ewes the veterinarians were seeing the usual problems with black bag mastitis. Ewes with this problem were usually culled, although they could be treated with antibiotics. Foot problems were also becoming evident and would become more pronounced with the combination of hot weather and rain showers. Scabby mouth in lambs should also be watched, with the best method of preven-

tion the control of gorse and thistles. Farmers should also be aware of the potential of rye grass staggers, although it has only been seen in horses so far. A M.A.F. veterinarian at Lincoln Animal Health Laboratory. Mr Jim Hutton, said that parasites were the main problems in producing animals at present, and lambs should be drenched. There were also some cases of pulpy kidney during the past

month. During the period of November 22 to 28 the mean soil temperature under nonirrigated land at Winchmore

LIVESTOCK MONITOR

Irrigation Research Station was 18.4 degrees Celsius. Under irrigated pasture it was 16.7. The soil moisture of non-

irrigated land was 14.4 per cent by weight on November 22. 2.7 per cent on November 24 and 13.8 per cent on November 26.