SCABBY MOUTH IN SHEEP & CONTROL BY VACCINATION

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22698, 24 July 1948, Page 8

SCABBY MOUTH IN SHEEP & CONTROL BY VACCINATION

SUPPLIES FREE

“Scabby mouth is a condition which affects sheep throughout New Zealand every year,'’ said the senior veterinarian of the Gisborne Veterinary Club, Mr. ft. Crawford, when drawing attention today to a reliable means ot countering the condition. "It is caused by a virus which gains entrance through a bieak in the skin," he continued, "hence it is worse in years when thistles are prevalent. The symptoms usually consist firstly of pimples which combine to form a large, thick, painful scab on the lips. Occasionally, similar wounds appear on the feet just above the hoof.” Except in the more severe cases, recovery usually took place in a few weeks, but there was a considerable loss in condition. Mr. Crawford said that most flocks had sporadic cases every year and, occasionally, severe outbreaks occurred in a flock at considerable cost to the owner. It usually affected lambs or young sheep, but all sheep were susceptible unless they had had a previous attack. Caccinatc at Docking The animal research station at Wallacevillc supplied a vaccine free of cost to any tanner for the prevention of the disease. Mr. Crawford said the vaccination was easily carried out by the farmer himself and could be done at docking time, when its use was strongly recommended. Inquiries could be made at cither the Department of Agriculture or the veterinary club, both of which would arrange for the vaccine to be sent direct to the farmer from Wallaceville. "1 personally recommend its regular use as a cheap insurance against the sporadic cases that occur every year and the occasional severe loss experienced on quite a number of farms in this district every few years,” Mr. Crawford said. In conclusion, he said that about 20,000 doses had been used in this district last season and there had been general satisfaction among the farmer users of the vaccine.