ECZEMA IN STOCK

Greymouth Evening Star, 27 April 1938, Page 5

ECZEMA IN STOCK

WAIKATO LOSSES [PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.] HAMILTON, April 26. Pathetic sights are being seen on practically every farm in the Waikato district. Hundreds of sheep and cows, suffering from facial eczema, are being slaughtered daily. The disease is still spreading rapidly, and the toll on some farms has reached appalling proportions. Many methods of treatment are being experimented with by farmers, and there has been some encouraging results, but. nothing conclusive has yet been established. In soqjie 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 bv individual farmers. Before the outbreak, Mr. L. H. Larner, of Kiwitahi, had 4000 sheep on his property, but at ■ the end of this week not a single ’ .animal, will be lefty Nine hundred of his flock were trucked to the works last week; 1,500 more were taken ■ away by motor lorry another day; >while the remainder will go later in ’ ..the week; Another prominent farmer, a neighbour of Mr. Larner, has lost his entire stock of sheep a.nd cattle and his ■ family, is 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 not obtainable in Morrinsville. Farmers at Ohatipo and Tuhikaramea also continue to have losses. Several 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 one farmer who had nothing but rough feed ou his property and who has entirely escaped the trouble. Neighbours with’ recently top-dressed pastures have lost, practically all their herds and flocks. ‘ OTAGO REMEDY. ■■ T V ’Y>?TA DUNEDIN, April 26. Realising tho • gravity" of 'the. Outbreak of; facial disease among cattle iff Aucklahd’, the ' Otago Provincial Council ; of’ Farmers’ • tJniffn, at ’ a meeting to-day, discussed ; si possible cure. and sexifi a. ’telegram outlining a remedy 'to'the Auckland Council of the Union. - Treatment- used, according to Mr R. J. E- Smith; a. member, by farmers when ail outbreak occurred years ago in Maniototo, consisted of the application of Stockholm tar to the affected parts, and the giving to the animals of three packets l of salts per cow, and’ one and a half packets per sheep. If Stockholm tar is not available, castor oil could be applied.