Farm & Station

Gisborne Times, Volume LXVIII, Issue 10728, 27 October 1928, Page 12

Farm & Station

ARTHRITIS IN LAMBS.

OFTEN BAR TO EXPORT

HOW GERM ENTERS

(Bv the Department of Agriculture.". Now that clocking and tailing ol lambs is in full swing, the question of lameness and coincident with this is a retardation of condition ol tho iamb, is one of particular seasonal interest.

.Research work at the Department of Agriculture’s Veterinary Laboratory at WalUiceville lias shown that the swollen joints which occur commonly on some of the farms in the North Island, but. more commonly in the older sheep country ot the South, and which result in many quarters ol otherwise excellent lamb Laving to be condemned for export at the freezing works, is caused by a specific bacillus belonging to the same group as that causing diphtheria- in man It is, however, found only in assoeia tion with inflammation of the joints of lambs. In an effort to find the way bv winch lambs -became infected, a va» riety of experiments have been carried' out as follows: Ewes in lambs have hail cultures injected into the blood stream, but the lambs when born wore normal. The genital' passages of ewes wero kept washed out with cultures of the organism for some days before lambing, but the lambs did not become affected. - . , . ' Lambs had the freshly broken, navel dipped m a. culture of the germ, but no lameness resulted. When, however, the organism was actually inoculated into the blood stream or veil up the recently severed navel, then the lambs showed acute infection and not only suffered from, the severe arthritis 'fait also did badly. The only parts affected apparently as shown by a post-mortem examination are the joints, and these may be so acutely invaded that the animal not only vs unable to iced properly, but is to .some extent poisoned by the organisms causative of the disease. Further experiments are under way this season and show that it is usual for the organism to gain entrance.at the tune of docking. On the fifth day after docking, when the. experimental organism had been sprayed into the hunks’ out tails or purse, lameness was commencing. It is yet too early to crive final results, but the experiment does show that the. usual time for infection of the lambs is at decking and tailing. PREVENTIVE MEASURES. Treat-men Vis of no avail once the organism Ims entered; therefore preventive measures are required. These consist in: (li> Setting up of temporary yards for decking in clean paddocks away from sheep camps. This practice is' already adopted by many sheep farmers. Docking in the sheep yards is dangerous not only from the point of view of arthritis (big joint), but also because of tile possibility oT malignant oedema (blood poisoning) or of caseous lymphadenitis (pseudo tuberculosis). (2) Keeping knives and steel in a jug or tin of disinfectant solution (not sheep dip), hut any of the better known and reliable disinfectants. (3) Turning out lambs on to clean fresh paddock's after marking.There is another form of arthritis prevalent in lambs following docking and usually seen about nine days after the operation. In this condition the lambs show marked stiffness in front or hind legs or in a.l four. There is little to show or feel except at a post-mortem examination, when the joints are found to be overful of fluid, and this fluid often contains pus. The germs causing this stiffness arc very mixed, but they come from the docking wound. Therefore emphasis must be laid on the necessity for clean docking yards and clean paddocks. Occasionally lameness L united before docking, and this is found to be due to pus producing organisms, which enter the na.vel at timer of birth. They frequently settle i;n the spine, thereby producing paralysis, or else may settle m joints and produce lameness.

IMPROVING THE HERDS.

MORE COWS UNDER TEST

HIGHER GOVERNMENT SUBSIDY

Herd-testing throughout the North Island is rapidly expanding, said Mr C. H. Hume, manager of tho New Zea'and Co-operative Herd-Testing Associations' of New Zealand last week. Mr. Hume; estimated that there were 250,0C0 cows uder test ill New Zealand this season. New associations had been formed at Hokianga, Whangarei, Wairoa, Hawke’s Bay, Heretaunga and Patea. All the older organisations reported having increased the number of -cows being tested. The number of cows under teat in the South Auckland district by the New Zealand Association was 85,000 this season, compared with 62,268 for last season and 57,756 for 192*5-26. The calf-marking system under which the progeny .of good butter-fat producers were kept, had grown enormously, said Mr. Hume, Three years ago only 641 calves were' marked, whereas this year tlie number was expected to exceed 7000. Highly satisfactory sales of marked calves at the end of last- season had given a great stimulus to the system, which demonstrated in a practical way tho value of herd-testing. The Minister of Agriculture, Hon. O. J. Hawken, had announced that the Government had approved, oi; a subsidy of £10,500 for subsidising herd-testing for the 1928-29 season, said Mr. Hume. This subsidy would La paid out- at the rate of Is per cow in group testing and 6d a tow for association testing. Last year the subsidy was £BOO. Herd-testing organisations desirous of receiving aportion of the 192-3-29 subsidy should at once tnaxe application to Eh© , rector of the Dairv Division. Mr. Hume expressed regret that the announcement was not made in May, before the testing season commenced, but lie; was very gratified that the Government recognised the value of the work that was being done, and he felt sure that the subsidy would give a. much-needecF™-petus to testing. Although rapid progress was being made, so far only about 15 per cent.. of the milking cows in the Dominion were - being tested. In the South of, Auckland district tho percentage was about 80/

✓ THEN' AND NOW.

ARE OUR PROBLEMS NEW?

FARMERS IN 'POLITICS

It the fashion, of the politicians of the day to announce as -elutions, of old problems solutions which arc not new, or. to go even further and to say that the problems themselves are those of modernity in all. ns decried phases, whereas many are the result of fulfilled ideals which oven present-day difficulties do not disprove. Forty-three years ago there were evident many of the things which, for the sake of assuming predr it by attempted solutions, are being claimed as original discoveries today. This is clearly brought out by. reading an essay written by William Reeve Haselden at the time of the Industrial Exhibition in 1885. The dislike of the native-born even then to toil which is now attributed to the present education system, is, in the circumstances, an interesting comment.

“It is a fact,” he says, “that in the North the native-born youths are averse to’farming, and prefer to get near the towns if possible. Nor aro they at all to bo * blamed for this, but rather to be praised; for, brought up on a farm, they grow up in ignorance, which they bitterly feet when brought into- contact with those from the towns'. Their eyes are then opened to the easier and more money-' commanding life that others lead, with the result that they centre towards towns at the first opportunity. Moreover, many parents encourage this feeling and evince great repugnance to bringing their sons, up to the hard life they themselves have endured. It is difficult to conceive a life more miserable to an intelligent youth than tlie drudgery of the farm. The fact remains that except perhaps in Canterbury and Otago the population will not prefer husbandry when they can get something better, and that ‘better’ will be afforded by tlie development of manufactures, trades, and trading. There will always be a sufficiency of farmers; but, iif New Zealand fulfils her destiny, the proportion of agriculturalists will be .ess than at present.” The writer stresses the importance of dairy farming, but deplores access difficulties which have since largely disappeared, ‘ thanks to the Government’s railway and reading policy. He foresaw the day when the capitalist will call in his mortgages, merging many small farms in one large holding, agriculturists being finally composed of capitalist farmers and farm laborers, unless (as subsequently touched upon) finances were differently arranged. “If tlie system of only making roads where' the present traffic will pay for them is persevered with,” he says, “fanning m many districts will languish and fade away,” instancing the Kararnea Settlement. “Where we have railroads, open land, and easy shipping, the smaller farmers win he squeezed out.” It is in his references to the farmer in politics, however, where Mr. Haselden is most interestingly reminiscent. and where his remarks have a present-day significance in view of the strength of farm representation to-dfiv. ‘ ‘The small tanner, ho says," “is not much represented in Parliament, nor, are Ins brains, as a rule, active enough to make sufficient stir to cause his grievance, to be removed. Ibe establishment oi a .State bank, which would make prudent advances to tlie farmer at a low rate of interest, without heavy legal charges would do much ; but there aie enormous difficult ies in the way of doing this, and )V is loured that at present, there is net much chance of its being done. Agricultural colleges mav serve to induce native-born youth to learn the business of farming, but roads and bridges are the. greatest necessities in order that tn» waste places mav be made fertile ami peopled, and the race of farmers an increasing and pro sue reus one. “But in order to provide cheap labor, immigration is another necessitv for the farming industry, the native-born are not averse to. shepherding. shearing and stock riding, but they have too much raitn In themselves to become, agricultural laborers. The lot of an agricultural laborer is superior m the colony to what it is at Home; but the sons of the colonial laborer strive to take a still more onward step, and rise superior to their parents’ position. Whether immigration on a wholesale scale is a good thing for the colony is a many-sided question, lor my own part I would prefer that the population of New Zealand should be produced by itself, with .such a leaven a.s unassisted immigration avill give; tlie wholesale importation of the inferior portion of the population of all countries will not tend to raise us to a high standard as- a people.. “The class of immigrant required for our agricultural interests is the small capitalist farmer, or rather the practical fanner having a moderate amount.of capital at command. These are at present being attracted, to Manitoba and elsewhere, and very few are coming to New Zealand. These are the men who will' invigorate our farming interests both, by example and by infusing ' wall-employed capital into the colony.”

QUEENSLAND’S PLIGHT.

SOME STATIONS. SHEEPLESS.

Tha significance of a statement Lately made in the Queensland 'Legislative Assembly by Mr.- George Pollock, on the drought position, is that he is the chairman of committees and member for the Gregory electorate, fine electorate, that contains ost of the drought-stricken area, He said the other day:— The whole of the Gregory .district had been in the grip of the drought for the last four years.. In addition, part of the Barcoo, the whole of the Mitchell, portion of the Burke, Queenton, Cook, Flinders and Leicliardt wore still feeling the devastating effects of the drought, v In normal seasons one average size station would send a wav to the markets' 1200 bales of wool, and the cost of handling and marketing that would work out at £SOOO. At present there was not a sheep on some -stations, and not a hale of wool, was being sent away. Thus the emloyment that the expenditure of that £oooo usually treated was missing. Seeing that the principal industry of the State was in dire difficulties, owing to bad sen. sons, unemployment was Only rain could relieve the position;' and even then it would; he two or, three seasons befVeqthe grass in.the west was restored to its' normal/fieri* .sity. and quality.- That, Anado -one realise that very lean times were , ahead of Queensland. People woulcl require assistance- to restock, and lie had good reasons.'.for believing that the Government 'would, - give, -assistance to men who (wanted to, import sheep for this? pvurpose. *.... r •/ /: ’:•

By "RUSTICUS"

MIXING FERTILISERS.

LINES THAT MAY BE FOLLOWED

Many fanners, 'especially those cultivating email areas /or the produc-' 1 tiou of fruit, potatoes and other speccrops, now compound tlie.uk own mixtures of artificial manures, and it Is advisable that they should know something of- the chemical changes that take place when the two different manurial ingredients come together. /In mixing fertilisers, tho chemical changes that take place may arise through volatilisation (evaportiou), or IE my be rendering soluble •manures much less so. It is well to state, however, that tin;., theory ~Tn this connection is not always supported to the very letter in practice. Although some '■"•fertilisers are said to become less soluble when mixed with certain others, states Primrose McConnell, a well-known authority on farming practice, the change is scarcely noticeable when the manure is applied to the soil. In fact, we are beginning to realise that the reduction in tlie degree-of solubility is, in many instances, an advantage rather than otherwise. In the case of nitrate of soda, when it is mixed with acid manures, such as superphosphates or dissolved bones some nitric acid is liberated, but in practice the Jess does not seem to amount 'to much. It must be noted, however, that the addition of nitrate of soda to superphosphates or dissolved bones causes .the mixture to become soft and pasty, in which condition it is impossible to sow it by hand or machine. The pasty condition may be prevented by adding a little, bone flour, which acts as a drier, and also to a great extent prevents waste of nitric acid.

It may be necessary to explain that “dissolved” bones are those treated with sulphuric acid, just- as the raw phosphates are treated to make superphosphate; while the bone meal is untreated, and, contrary to superphosphate .or dissolved bones has a drying action rather than a damping one. Nitrate of soda may be safely mixed with phosphoric manures that have not been treated with sulphuric acid ,sucli as raw mineral •phosphates and basic slag. AH kinds of phosphati'c manures, treated, or untreated with sulphuric acid, such a.s superphosphate, basic slag, basic superphosphate, raw phosphates, and bones in any form, may be safely mixed with, potash. A mixture of superphosphate or dissolved bones, with kainit, will give off some fumein the form of hydrochloric acid, but, this loss is of no consequence, as the value of the manure is not decreased thereby'.

Sulphate of ammonia may be safely mixed .with acid phosphates, such as superphosphate, or dissolved bones, also with non-add, or untreated phosphates, provided they do not contain lime, as tho lime drives off the ammonia ill the, form of gas. Hence sulphate of ammonia should not be mixed with basic stag or the African phosphates. Mixing basic slag with sulphate of ammonia, in a closed-in ,shed, may easily lead jo suffocation, as the fumes that result are very strong. ■ Chemists tell us that superphosphate, or dissolved bones should not be mixed with any manure containing free lime, because the soluble phosphates will be reverted to the insoluble form, to au" extent depending on the quantity of lime present'. In theory, therefore, those manures should not bo mixed with basic slag, but, in practice, such a mixture, gives excellent results. Tlie superphosphate, or dissolved bones, may be mixed with any other manure that dots not contain lime. When kainit is mixed with other manure, it should' b-o applied as soon ns possible, as the mixture becomes solid’ and hard iif allowed to stand in tlie bags for some 'time. Whan mixing Immures care should be taken thate'the mixing In done thoroughly, and all lumpsshouru be broken mi. The best plan is to put the whole through a fine riddle, throwing lumps to one side. t 6 be afterwards broken up and added to tlie bulk. Tho riddling mixes the- manures much better than they can be done by merely turning them over with it" shovel. Tanners who nPx their own Immures should make a point of applying them as soon as possible after mixing. Tn the average case, manure distribution is more evenly dune by tlie machine than by hand", but the latter can always do serviceable work where working' of machinery- is impossible. When top dressing pastures, a small corner or a narrow-strip right across the paddock should always he left unmanured, iso that the farmer may, later on, have 4 the satisfaction of comparing the treated with the untreated. PURSE-BRED STOCK. VALUE OF PR'EiPOTENCV. IMPROVEMENT OF ANIMALS. The real value of pure-bred animals lies in the fact that they will reproduce their own kind. Crossbreds have been produced which in themselves were superior, from a_ proflt,returning point of view, to either of the, pure bred parents, but Jn ninetypine cases out of a hundred their progeny have, proved inferior to the original pure -stock. Because an animal is pure-bred it does not necessarily follow that it is good. Its quality depends tnlSMety on the skill and knowledge of the breeder. He must be qualified through experience and observation, to mate together those animals whose good qualities will blend in thei offspring to produce an • animal nearer to perfection than its parents. Such animals are said to “nick” and the art of selecting for mating animals which will “nick” cr blend' perfectly is the root of success in stud breeding.; One sire that is prepotent will, improve the--quality of all tlie progeny that “is got by .him, but unless the dams are similarly prepotent, all tlie improvement will be l toward Ins own qualities, and any good features that the' females- • have will he submerged. ‘ Similarly, if a sire, however good he may be, in conformation; or . other desirable .be nofeprepotent, his stock are. just as likely to favor the dain 'or, her forebears. DEFINITION OF PREPOTENCY. Prepotency is the ability of any, aninffil male; or female, to produce offspring like itself in respect to its outstanding qualifies of character :or con/ formation. Prepotent, animals, have, cevefal noticeable characteristics,, too chief of which is,., perhaps, the (quality, nf -leadership. may 'bn said to pi ace/the bull a'trthe head of the ; wild herd, or make a certain, ram leader of , the, f flock. ■ . It- is-, vitality, Courage and intelligence blended with physique..

lii nature this was all that was necessary for the continual improvement of the species through a slow evolution. Because of these characteristics the dominant and therefore, prepotent animal came to the top. and through conquest eliminated inferior males, appropriating an even greater number of -females to hintself. and improving their progeny. We have all seen this type of animal. He has a bold, almost arrogant, way of standing, with legs set well apart and' fiiniiy planted. His head is carried high, his eye is both big and prominent and lias an alertness which indicates his intelligence. All his movements are brisk anu decisive and. greatest of all, he appears to be fairly charged with vitality. Sometimes these matings take place by chance in the stud, and the breeder pats himself on the back for his cleverness in mating, which produces some good sheep, but when, by death or other cause, the outstanding prepotent sire is removed from the head of the stud, he wonders why liis sheep fail to continue in their improvement. When a breeder thoroughly understands how to mate his prepotent sheep so that they will “nick,'’ he will nearly always produce better progeny than the parents, and he will always produce good animals. It must always be remembered, of course, that prepotent animals can have bad as well as good features, and these must be conetted in mating. When this stage is reached in studbreeding and the - breeder is qualified to select animals which will mek and produce what be wants of them, -it is only natural that ho should, hesitate about introducing an ouTeross of any soit. He knows that, by selective mating he can intensify strength of constitution just as he can any other desirable feature, so lie inbreeds or linebreeds as ho may wish, with perfect confidence that thereby lie will gain tlm most "improvement in hi* stock. — (“Nov Zealand Herald.”) RAGWORT MENAGE. MAY ATTACK POTATOES'. NO BISK WILL BE BUN. Some months' ago it as decided to release a moth called Tyria .Tacobaeae which, -it was . anticipated, would quickly ‘ihako an end of ragwort, one of tliehmany weeds cursed by farmers all over the Dominion. But owing to a- report having been received by the Noxious Weed Committee of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research that this moth has a penchant for potatoes the permit for lelease has not been acted upon. In the meantime, Dr. Miller, at the Cawthrou Institute, Nelson, is making comprehensive trials with 19 varieties of potatoes to discover if the motlv really does attack them. It is'anticipated, however, that these trials will : pfove -the rumour to be groundless, it having arisen from the fact that ragwort often grows amongst • potatoes, -tha Tyria when seen around potatoes' being attracted by the .ragwort and not by the potato plants. l>r. Tillyard isayis that during the. recent summer in Britain conditions were favorable for ghe Tyria and large numbers could be seen, but ip. ho case which he investigated could they be found attacking potatoes. However, no risk is tobe run in the Dominion, and Tyria Jacobaeae. will not ■be liberated until it is proved beyond all doubt that it does!,not ' attackfpotatoes;