SHEEP LOSSES

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 179, 27 April 1938, Page 13

SHEEP LOSSES

Whole Flocks Killed In Waikato

ECZEMA OUTBREAK Animals Slaughtered On Nearly Every Farm Bv Telegraph—Press Association. Hamilton, April 26. Pathetic sights are being witnessed on practically every farm in the Waikato district; hundreds of sheep arnd cows suffering from facial eczema are being slaughtered daily. The disease is still increasing rapidly, and the toll on some farms lias reached appalling proportions. Many methods of treatment are being experimented with by farmers, and there have been some encouraging results, but nothing conclusive has yet been established. In some cases whole flocks have been destroyed by sending them to the freezing works to be killed and boiled down for fertilisers. The disastrous results of the outbreak can be gauged by the magnitude of the losses suffered by individual farmers. Before the outbreak Mr. L. H. Larner, Kiwitahi, had 4000 sheep on his property, but at the end of this week not a single animal will be alive. Nine hundred of his flock were trucked to the works last week and 1500 more were taken away by motor-lorry the other day. The balance will go later in the week. Another prominent farmer, a neighbour of Mr. Larner, has lost his etire sheep flock and cattle herd and his family are using tinned milk. It was stated to-day that so great has been the demand for tinned milk among the farming community that this commodity is unobtainable in Morrinsville.

Farmers at Ohaupo and Tuhikaramea also continue to expedience losses. Several of them have sent from 1000 to 3000 animals to the works and have lost hundreds, and in some cases thousands of pounds through the disease. An outstanding case is that of a farmer who had nothing but rough feed on his property and who has entirely escaped the trouble. Neighbours with recently topdressed pastures have lost practically all their herds and flocks.

KILLING OF DISEASED ANIMALS

27,000 At Auckland Works

USELESS FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION By Telegraph—Press Association Auckland, April 26. Approximately 27,000 sheep and lambs affected with facial eczema have been killed and condemned for human consumption at Auckland’s three freezing works at Westfield since the beginning of March, when the disease began to make its presence noticeable among stock. One company alone has handled 16,000. The numbers at first represented about 30 per cent, of killings, but in the past two weeks they have increased to 60 per cent. No cattle or pigs suffering from eczema have been killed by any of the companies. Road transport wagons have taken load after load of sheep in varying stages of infection from scattered districts toward Westfield in the past two months. The numbers reached a peak last week, and many loads still poured into the works to-day. Valuable stock and inferior sheep alike have suffered and farmers in the worst-affected districts have been compelled to send large portions of their flocks away to be destroyed, the task being an impossible one for them to undertake themselves. At present one of the companies is doing nothing else in its works except kill infected stock for the convenience of clients who have been forwarding high-grade mutton throughout the season. So far about 7000 sheep and lambs have been killed in this way. The company had closed its works after the export season, but under the demand it had to restart operations and re-engage butchers who had been paid off. At first the butchers caused a hitch by demanding double rates of pay, but when it was made clear that they would contract no disease from the sheep they accepted the work at ordinary rates. Little. Return to Farmers. None of the meat can be used for food. The disease causes it to discolour, giving it a jaundiced appearance. The carcases are boiled down to produce tallow, which is also of a yellow colour and inferior to that of non-af-fected sheep, and the blood and bone

are used for fertiliser products. The wool and skins are of questionable value. At the most, farmers receive up to about 4/- a head for eczema stock, and out of this return transport, amounting to 1/- a head, has to be paid. RESEARCH CAMPAIGN Outbreaks In Taranaki And Manawatu Ileports now being received by the Department of Agriculture indicate that facial eczema is fairly prevalent among live stock in the Manawatu, Taranaki, and Hawke’s Bay districts. However, the outbreaks in those areas are not so serious as that in the South Auckland district, where the disease i.s taking a heavy toll of dairy herds and sheep flocks. An oflicial of the department stated yesterday that the position concerning facial eczema in live stock had changed little in the preceding 4S hours, but the cooler and overcast weather conditions had diminished the number of fresh outbreaks. As soon a.s the cold weather slowed up grass production and hardened feed generally, fresh outbreaks would cease. That had been the experience in the past. “The Government realises the importance of discovering practical methods for avoiding future epidemics, and so intends- to carry out a thorough programme research,” he said. “Preparations are being made for this work to begin immediately. “Trials being carried out at the Ruakura Farm of Instruction show already the value of liberal feeding of ensilage. The department has persistently advised farmers to establish ensilage pits, but those farmers who have not taken this advice and are now unfortunately without ensilage should fall back on hay, which should be fed liberally. The object of hay feeding is to reduce the consumption of the flush herbage, which is very marked on all affected farms. “Many farmers are still apparently afraid that -the trouble is contagious. Research, not only in New Zealand, but in other countries where severe losses occur, has definitely shown that such is not the case. Facial eczema is not contagious. However, farmers are advised to segregate the affected animals for greater convenience and efficiency in the treatment of these animals. This is particularly advisable in cases where the farmer has only a certain amount of shade and thus can protect only a portion of his stock from direct sunlight. The removal of stock from direct sunlight is a most essential part of the treatment.” OTAGO SUGGESTION Bv Telegraph—Press Association. Dunedin, April 26. Realising the gravity of the outbreak of facial disease among cattle in the Auckland province, the Otago Provincial Council of the Farmers’ Union at a meeting to-day discussed a possible cure and sent a telegram outlining a remedy to the Auckland council of the union. Mr. R. J. E. Smith sai-d the treatment used by farmers when an outbreak occurred years ago in Maniototo consisted of the application of Stockholm tar to the affected parts and giving animals three packets of salts a cow and one and a half packets a sheep. If Stockholm tar was not available castor oil could be applied.