DIPPING TROUBLES

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22617, 21 April 1948, Page 3

DIPPING TROUBLES

LAMENESS IN SHEEP ORGANISM THE CAUSE CONTROL BY BLUESTONE (PA) WELLINGTON, April 20. Lameness in shccp_ has occurred in some instances in New Zealand and Australia after dipping in various modern dips. In Australia a similar type of lameness has been produced experimentally by dipping in plain water to which no dip of any Kind had been added. , , _ During 'he past few weeks the Department of Agriculture, in collaboration with technical advisors of dip manufacturers, has been carrying out experimental work which the department states now shows conclusively that the lameness is caused not by anything in the dip itself nor by any breakdown in the product of the dip, but by a microbe which gets into the animal through small cuts or skin abrasions. The name of the organism—the same organism which causes arthritis in lambs—is erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae. This microbe probably gets carried into the bath with the soil, or possibly on wool or in dung and as the bath becomes progressively fouled the danger of infection increases. If skin abrasions happen to be in the pastern region local inflammation affects the soft tissues of the loot, causing lameness, which usually develops in one to four days after dipping. Recovery from the lameness is invariable and the sheep usually are sound again in from one to three weeks but there is a loss of condition as a result of the lameness. A simple preventive measure has been discovered. The addition of a solution of ordinary bluestone to the bath will prevent the development of the organism and safeguard the sheep against this disease.