Farm & Station

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 12869, 23 May 1936, Page 12

Farm & Station

WARNING TO FARMERS SCOURING IN LAMBS AND HOGGETS THREAT OF SERIOUS LOSSES (Issued by the Department of Agriculture) Owing to, ihe abnormal seasonal conditions during tbe past summer and autumn, resulting in prolific growth of pastures) producing feed conditions) which are anything but ideal for whoop and lambs, there is now a- grave possibility of serious losses; during the winter period. For some time past scouring, has been much in evidence amongst lambs and hogget s, and officers of the Live Stock Division, have been issuing advice to sheepfarmers in all districts to adopt measures calculated to prevent or min'miso the anticipated losses. Slieepowner.s, however, do not appear to be sufficiently alive to the danger and this warning is accordingly repeated here.

Not. only have the wet ft-cd conditions been unfavourable to the proper nutrition of sheep that are. growing but they have been eminently favourable to heavy worm infestation. Semiring is, very evident in nil districts at the present time. While worm infestation ploys a large part in this, the farmer must, realise teatthe feed conditions a>'e also ~ Irghly important, factor. The feed being unsuitable and the hush pastures favouring worm infestation brings about a; vicious cycle inasmuch as the ir drruourishment of the animal makes d an easier prey to the parasites uh’cb infest it. it will lie apparent, from this that not only must the stock, lie treated to, control worm iniestutbvn, hut careful consideration to provide better feed conditions is .--till more essential. A; worm drench now recommended by the Live Stock Division is a mixture of lib. copper sulphate (bluestone',; and 16 fluid ounces of commercial nicotine sulphate in. o gallons of water (O ounce?!' each to the gallon is sufficiently near when, mixing smaller quantities). The dose is from ) ounce for weak lambs to 1 ounce for stronger hoggets. There is no need to starve the animals previous to drenching, in fact it is better not to do so. Dosing should/ he repeated at. two or three-week intervals throughout the winter. Regarding the adjustment, of the .feed, this is! admittedly a matter of considerable difficulty in many eases. The best course to adopt where it is at all practicable rs> to 'emovo the lambs and hoggets from the lush pastures to higher and drier land where the feed is mnro suitable for this species. If this is done and drenching is carried out as recommended, good results can he anticipated. Where proper grazing for sheep is not. available and it is unavoidable that they he kept on. this lush) feed: every endeavour must be made, to balance the. ration and provide adit iona I fib"e as well as nutriment. A supply of good hay ('preferably lueoue or clover) and a daily ration of chaff can he regarded as highly beneficial. For lambs and hoggets going hack ir.t e.ond'tion the provision of a little oats mixed in the chaff has} a wonderfully good ofTcct.. In addition to such measures as these, control of the pasture by the use of cattle., and even, where possible, by inuwu g, must he considered. The point to he stressed is that sheep, especially lambs and hoggets, require short feed and cannot he expected to thrive, on long rank growth. There is undoubtedly scope for the greacor use of hay in the wintering of hoggets, anrl wh.ilmany claim that hay will not he eaten when greon feed is available, it isi a fact that the stud breeder overcomes this difficulty and it should therefore not. prove.impossible in the management of ordinary flocks.. The advantage, oli using some dry feed hi a season like the present one lies in. increasing the fibre content of the soft feed, in providing variety in the diet, in assisting to prevent scours, and above) all in providing a. supplement, which, can he. g,uarant..<d to lie free from the eggs and larvae of the several varieties of parasiticworms which undermine the health of omr hogget flocks. The successful wintering of hoggets, is in many oases a- specialised branch of sheep husbandry requiring close shepherding and observation and a close study of feeding and attention to detail in management.

FEEDING FOR WOO I

While Ilienrefically the amount, of wool a, sheep produces is limited by the wool-producing capacity of its breed, in practice, feeding is all-im-portant. Thus hndl.v wintered sheep may lose most of their wool when spring comes, arid fences and hedges heroine covered with wool tags. A year on a lowland pasture will put pounds on the weight of a hill ewe’sfleece. In general fleece-weight and body weight go together; when a sheep is growing flesh it grows woof too. Any check to a. sheep—hard weather, sickness, or starvation, wilt slow down the growth of.new wool, .states a Homo paper. Now, a wool fibre grows in two dimensions, length and thickness. When wool slackens there, is a bigger decrease in the thickness of fibre than in its length. Wool fibre grown during check periods is thinner than the rest. Hence a wool fibre is not the same thickness throughout its length. Tho bigger the difference between the thick and tho thin parts, so much weaker is the wool.

An especially thin parti in a fibre is died a “break,” which manufacturers dislike sri much .since the wool tears at those places during manufacture. A fibre, of even thickness throughout its length is what wool merchants like, and that can only he sec lured by keeping sheep thriving, without serious chock, between one clipping, and the next.

( By ” R USTIOTTS. ”)

A KICKING COW Kicging on the part >i/f a. milking cow may he a vice or ill may be an excuse, and; i:fc isi the business of/ all intelligent, stock handlers to find tho true cairsei and, where possible, correct it. Tho fault may have some donfiito reason, or it. may be disposition. It is sufficient to have only a. '.small skin, crack oiv one’s own. band or finger to realise the sensitiveness of the cow, whose sore teats are hewing manipulated during the milking process. Where-a cow in such a condition kicks out the action is, instinctive -amcl in. self-defence. As soon as tho careful herd-manager sees to it that such cracks are honied up the kicking will cease. There is tho type of cow whoso make-up results in her 'kicking simply to relieve her own feelings. The animal showing such a disposition must he treated, at. all costs with unruffled patience if she is io ho turned, into a contented milker. Such herd members are of the ncivous iriitahle sort, and- if wrongly handled will become habitual kickers and a. loss, so far as dairying profit is concerned. With a kicked of this type as often as not an effective plan ad milking time is to give a picking of some feed to which she is particularly partial, to divert hen attention from the pail-tilling operation. Should this st atagem he ineffective and legroping he resorted to, all temptation to retributive violence on the part of the handler must he resisted, for harsh treatment in any form will increase the kicking propensity, and lessen tho chance of .improving tl-o kicker into a settled milking type. The cow that, despite all firm but kindly tlreatrnent. persists in ihe habit to an extent that suggests permanent- vicionsness should ho disposed of in the same way ns that decided on in the case of any other unsatisfactory milker—by being! fattened up for sale to the butcher.

HOW PAR. WILL IT CARRY?

FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE

“7 agree with the conclusions of Mr. A. P. McDougall in his article dealing with-the costly problem ol foot unci mouth disease, although his method of arriving aft these conclusions. would not he. acceptable! to the scientific mind.” writes Air. 11. E. Rywater, AI.R.C.V.S.. in “The Farmers’ Weekly.” “The virus of this disease, was proved some years ago, to he able to remain ineffective for at least ninetysix days in the hone marrow of carcases kept, in cohl storage—ample time to allow of infection from South America to reach animals in this country.

“The Afinistry of Agriculture is alive to this danger and, has issued orders designed to reduce the effects of this imported infection. Tho reason why potentially infected meat i? allowed to enter this country and menace the health of our herds is. I,submit, not. veterinary hut political policy; Hie fact that British and American capital is financing this trade does not help the veterinary policy. ’ ’ (This is the op hi ioni of a. qualified veterinarian, and particular attention is drawn to the last, sentenced.

FARM HAND’S DEATH SUFFOCATED IN SOFT EARTH Unusual circumstances were revealed. at the inquest into the death of Leslie .Tacklin Hardgravo, a farm labourer. His body was found oil April Id by his employer hes'do a liav rake m a farm near New Plymouth. There were no external injuries. but indications, according to thd evidence of Dr. G. IT. Thomson, showed that Ha nigra vo had a- fainting turn while driving the hay rake to gather fern.

Ho apparently fell and was caught under the rake, which dragged him along underneath in soft earth, some of which lodged in his mouth and gullet, causing suffocation. Deceased’s employer, said deceased had complained about his health, and the medical evidence showed, that, his heart was not sound. A verdict that TTardgrave was suffocated through fating in soft earth was returned-

FARMERS’ DEBTS > 1000 APPLICATIONS FOR’ RELIEF IN VICTORIA LIABILITIES OF C 1,000,0H0 MELBOURNE, Afav 1. Afore than 1000 applications! for debt adjustment have been, received by ihe Fanners’ Debts Adjustment Board. The total liabilities of the farmers concerned are more than fi I, 000,000 and the total number of direct creditors involved, is about 12,000. It was stated that the. applications revealed a. surprisingly large, number of gua'an tors' of debts and predecessor < ip, t'tle who are indirect creditors of the, applicants, thus considerably in ceasing (he number of creditors! concerned! and complicating the cases.

SHOWING FEMALE CATTLE

NOT A AVISEI PRACTICE

It vs quite natural for every studbreeder to try to advertise his herd, as well as his breed, by bringing forward! for show as large a team, as possible, consisjkng of the best hulls; and females,, hut it, is a, debatable quesfc’on whether ho is doing a wise thing .showing females from a, breed standpoint, asi a number of females in the beef section, after being shown over .18 months old, have turned out to he barren, and ’t is very seldom that * female got up into good condition as a youngster turtrs out to he a, good milker (writes A. J. Tanner in .the “Australasian”). Of course there are exceptions, but they are'few and .far between, and a large number of Che. cream of various herds has unfortunately been lost to the country, .simply through being highly fed for show when very young. . •

It is a well-known fact among studmen that i>. does not pay to get young heifers too fat before mating, and that if they are kept.in good, thrifty growing condition they are not only far easier to get- in calf, hut rear their calves better and. prove to be better milkers later in their lives.

Quite a tot has been said on the subject of beef cattle losing choir, milk qualities owing to the use of foster-mothers, andi possibly this,, to a certain extent, has quite a lot ‘‘o do with it, huti far more damage is done by doing the young breeders too well after weaning. It* is quite understandable tha;, every stud breeder wishes to see his picked females looking at their best , all tbo time, and that it is very nice, to hear people who see them re-mark how wonderful they look—loaded up with condition, but from a. practical] and economical point of view it is nol a good policy To adopt., Xo Jersey breeder or breeder of any other milking cattle will ever allow his young heifers to become fat. If lie. does he finds Huy they may show plenty of udder development, but that when, they come in to bo milked and to si and up to the test, all .'lint development turns out- to be meshy, and useless. Cows have frequently been seen which have been shewn when coming on to I lie first calf, which would make one think they would be groat milkers, but when they have been tried out, they soon have proved that they have not sufficient i7iilk lo roar their calves. Consequently, even when roaring their own calves they remain fat them's elves while their calves lookmiserable.

GREASY HEELS IX HORSES

In the treatment of grease the„ factors which favour if must be carefully avoided. Although exposure to damp muddy conditions largely favours the disease, it is also considered that foods, especially .over-rich in protein, may have some influeneo. and also that the general health of the animal is responsible. Sometimes horses with clean logs! and kepi; under good conditions are affected. It is probable also that the solution you are using for cleansing the feet is having an irritating effect. Kerosene, especially, will pi educe an irritating rash. In place, of irritants, such as kerosene and phenylo. it. is suggested that you use soap and water, with a little bi-carbonate of soda, about H 07.. \o tire gallon of water. This will help to dissolve the greasy exudations. andi will not irritate the sores. After drying the sores, an astringent lotion containing 30/.. each of sulphate of copper, zinc sulphate, and alum, in one gallon of writer, ma.v be swabbed on the parts. The; affected parts may then he dressed with an antiseptic lotion, such as vaseline, with a little boraeic acid or lysol mixed through if. Ik is advisable to clip the hairs away from the affected parts. The genet aI. treatment, with dressings should bo applied once a dav.

WHEN WOOL WAS WOOL! AUSTRALIAN MERINOS IX l SOI When Captain. Macarfhur left Port Jackson in 1301 the heaviest fleece that, bad been shorn weighed only throe pounds and a half. In 18D2, however, fleeces of his sheep were increased to five pounds each (in the grease), and the wool was finer and softer that that, of the preceding ,vea'-. The fleece of one of the slice]) originally imported from the Cape of Good Hope was valued in London a,, -Is Gd: it pound and a flccc-e of the same kind bred in New South Wales was estimated at, 6s a pound. Being oneo in possession of this valuablebreed and having ascertained tint they improved in the climate. Captain Maoarthur became anxious to exend them as much as possible, lie therefore crossed all the mixed-bred ewes of which his flocks were composed with Spanish rams. The lambs produced by this cross wore much improved, but when they were again crossed ilia result far exceeded his most sanguine expectations. In four crosses he. believed that no distinction would he perceptible between the pure and the mixed breed. As proof of the, extraordinary and rapid improvement of bis flocks Captain Macarthur exhibited the fleece of a co-arse-wool led ewe that had been valued at 9d a pound mull the fleece of her lamb begotten by a Spanish ram, which, was allowed to he worth Gs a pound. In 18013 Captain Macart hui- had about 4000 sheep among which wero no rams hut those of Spanish breed.

ITOW FAST CAN YOU TALLY SHEEP ?

GUESS FIRST—READ THIS AFTERWARDS

Imvp; had tj 11 itc a few argu-ment-si on the time* it takes to count sheep per thousand. I have always maintained that a thousand in about four minutes, or eight thousand in half an hour, was good average counting,” write.-i a correspondent of the Sydney Mail. “I have been scoffed at, challenged to prove my statement, •and though on paper, the thing does look rather .ridiculon-s, I still mainlain that is only average counting. To make a definite statement, hero are my figures:—During 1011, when Bill BrancUord was over the hoauL at Bavcaldine Downs shearing, and f was head overseer, the subject of sheep counts and time came up for discussion. 1 made the usual 8000 in half an hour. Ridiculous! Preposterous! Impossible! Bet- you a giver! Can’t be done! Those were only a few of the interjections. A few days later 1 was able to offer proof. Some ]6,026 or 16,628 —I-for-get the exact figure after the lapse of time—maiden ewes wore- coming to the end. I had to count them into ■a» small paddock, from which they would ho mustered for shearing. J counted them. The time taken was a tick under 45 minutes, and the check at the shed, when they were counted over the board- Avas a difference of three. That is, just one instance out, of many. If others like to ■spring tall figures-1 also have a memory and the experience over long 1 years in Western Queensland when it Avas the fashion to handle big mob® of sheep,”