DRENCHING SHEEP

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 261, 31 July 1937, Page 16

DRENCHING SHEEP

Experiences Recounted FARMERS’ OPINIONS Experiences with the drenching of sheep and lambs were recently sought in these columns. Information was asked for under the following headings: 1. Class of country and district. 2. Type of farming. 3. Is drenching the normal practice? 4. Are grown sheep drenched? 5. Are only sick sheep drenched? 6. Have “controls” (i.e., similar sheep undrenehed) ever been kept? 7. Has drenching ever been abandoned? 8. Type or types of drench used. 9. Have types been changed? 10. Season for drenchings and number given. 11. General conclusions. A number of replies have come to hand, from as wide an area as Feiiding, Ormondville and Te Awamutu. A summary of the information is given, in order of the questions: 1. The class of country varies from the richest of flat's to. steep third-class land. 2. Replies are almost entirely from "straight” sheep-farmers. 3. Drenching is the normal practice in all cases, although one correspondent qualifies this by stating “in four years out of five.” 4. Grown sheep are not generally drenched. However, one correspondent states that he intends doing so- from now on. Another says that although he does not usually drench grown sheep he did this season drench “60 very cull, unsaleable ewes twice. Three died after the first drench. Later the remainder did so well that rams were put with them, and they promise 80 to 90 per cent, of lambs.” 5. Most cases reported make a practice of drenching all lambs, whether “healthy” or not. 6. In no case have “controls" been kept. 7. A few admit to having abandoned drenching in the past. S. A very popular drench is the bluestone and Blackleaf 40 mixture, generally at a strength of 2 per cent, bluestone and 2 per cent. Blaekleaf 40 (nicotine sulphate), equalling Boz. of each to a gallon .of water. 1 am using this drench at a lesser strength, 2oz. of each to a gallon. This is very popular on the Mauawatu low country. Mustard appears to enter but little into drenches used now. A number of proprietary brands are satisfactorily referred to. 9. Many report numerous changes in types of drench used, but most are satisfied with their present drench. 10. Considerable variation is shown in regard to time of starting drenching. One Hawke’s Bay correspondent is emphatic that lambs be drenched the day they are weaned. Another, a Main Trunk farmer, starts a month after weaning. A number of lamb purchasers make a practice of drenching lambs the day after their arrival. Subsequent drenchings are generally carried out at tbrec-weekly intervals. However, some drench monthly. One corrcs|*iiidenl carries on drenching till next lambing, in his case September I. As lie drenches al throe-weekly intervals, this means no fewer Ilian 10 drenchings, a vast amount of. work indeed. Most usual is Die practice of drenching till the end of June, and some cease even by June 1. In.common with many others in Manawatu who have recently bought hoggets. I shall now drench these twice, late though it is. General Conclusions. Drenching may be termed a general practice among sheep-fanners. Most cor respondents are in agreement on principles. but considerable differences of opinion are evident regarding details. It is recognised that drenching cannot perform miracles, and that good feeding conditions are the foundation for successful lamb weaning and roaring. However, drenching is a most valuable “supplementary treatment.” In view of its importance, there is opportunity for vigorous research along practical lines to determine the soundest methods of treating lambs and sheep. "Coni rolled” experiments, with careful weighing to determine results of various Ire:iindents, should be carefully carried out. 919 YEARS’ TENANCY Italian Farming Family For 919 yeans one family has uninteruptedly worked the same farm in Italy. A society there exists to investigate and study such ancient tenancies. Before this record was discovered the record was held by one at only 710 years—back to 1227. From 1018 A.D. 48 years were to elapse till the Norman conquest of England, 474 yeans before Columbus discovered America, and 822 years till the settlement proper of New Zealand. What history lias been made during the centuries Dial familv has tilled its little farm in sunny Italy.