FOOTROT

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVI, Issue 209, 21 August 1926, Page 10

FOOTROT

Predisposition of Some Sheep Breeds

Its Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

(By

"Sundowner")

NBW ZEALAND FORTUNATE QINCE the day> when ecab amongst sheep was e’adicated in New Zealand, the sheepfarmer has had remarkably few diseases to contend with in this country. Fluke is now seldom heard of, lung-worm can be dealt with efficiently and comparatively cheaply by the farmer, but there remains always with us on certain soils, the annoyance of foot-rot in our sheep Foot-rot is by no means universal in our flocks, for on much of our drier hill country it is seldom seen, but it is sufficiently widely distributed to warrant special consideration and possibly investigation on scientific linos. - INHERITED IMMUNITY FROM ATTACK. It la recognised nowadays that humans and animals, and in fact all life when subjected to conditions favourable to the attacks of certain diseases, at once seta to work to combat the bacteria which is its cause, and in course of time, through a process of survival of the fittest, attains by innoculatiou or the development of special characteristics a certain immunity to the specific complaint which threatens its existence. Thus cattle which are natives of India and Africa have in time become more or less proof against the effects of the bite of the tsetse fly. Again, humans have built np virus in the blood whioh combats and destroys the germs of consumption, measles and other diseases to the attacks of which almost everyone is subjected at one time or another, but where the system is healthy, the germs are attacked and destroyed before they can gain a permanent footing. i'hu s with sheep grazed where conditions were extremely favourable to the attacks of the foot-rot germ, the animals have gradually built up a certain resistance to the disease which is particularly noticeable m the Romney sheep, for centuries bred and reared on the rank, moist pastures of Kent, CHARACTERISTIC OF IMMUNITY LOST. This Immunity, or rather one should say, exception* resistance of the disease, is to a certain extent hereditary, but with the adaptation of the Romney sheep to almost all localities both high and drv and low and damp, in New Zealand, the soundness of foot for which the breed has been renowned has been largely lost, and sheep bred for some generations on dry, well-drained soil, , when taken for fattening or other purposes, to low, damp country are almost as bad as such breeds as Menno, Souwhdown. Shropshire, etc As for practical purpose g it is impossible to treat the land inhabited , by the foot-rot germ with a reasonable chance of eradicating it, we , must of necessity confine ourselves to the sheep which are attacked by the disease and, if possib e, aid nature in making them proof against its attacks. SCALD—ITS TREATMENT. As almost every farmer knows, there are at east three degrees of what is known at foot-rot. The first is usually termed “scald” when a greasy, inflamed condition is set u, in the cleft of the hoof. If treated in this state, before the germs' have , worked their way down to and under the shell .of the hoof, » complete cure is comparatively easily effected. The best treatment tried by the writer has been to either rub a mixture of arsenic and flowers of sulphur into the cleft (one part of arsenic to ten of sulphur) or if the scald is fairly general throughout the flock to run the sheep through dry quicklime and sulphur laid down thickly in the drafting race. Either of these treatments will dry the scald whereas an application of a greasy nature tends to aggravate rather than cure. FOOT-ROT PROPER—VARIOUS TREATMENTS, When the germs have burrowed their way under the horn of the hoof (the second stage), the only method to adopt is to ruthlessly cut away the hoof, so as to expose the seat of the disease and enable treatment by direct application to kill the germs. This stage of the complaint is usually accompanied by much • limping on the part of the sheep and a.s the sufferer favours the affected foot or feet, often to the extent of kneeling when grazing, the toes and sides of the hoof rapidly grow to considerable lengths, the sides frequently folding under across the sole, providing perfect shelter for the germs. It is usual when the hoof has been thoroughly pared to apply one or other of the following mixtures:— Powdered bluestone, either dusted on or dissolved in water, or again mixed with lard. Butyr of antimony is certainly effective in killing the foot-rot germs, hut unless used carefully the cure is frequently worse than the disease. Stockholm tar has advantages in that it tends to prevent a further attack of the germs if the

treatment given prior to applying the tar hn> been thorough, hut so many spots hidden under the shell may. even,>e the farmers’ notice that it is frequently futile. The most popu-

lar proceeding after paring is done is to run the sheep through a shallow foot-rot trough which is filled with a solution of arsenic or arsenical Sheep dip.

Personally the writer has ney.et had any success worth speaking about when using this method, and believes in the particular application to each hoof as it is treated. A method of treatment which he has used for many years with‘great suo oess even in very severe deep-rooted cases of disease is the following:— Pare the hoof so as to expose all seats -of the disease, then apply with a stiff paint-brush or blackleudbrush a mixture of lard, sulphur, arsenic and kerosene. Melt the lard over a slow tire, add «u equal quantity of flowers of sulphur, and to every pound of the mixture add two ounces of arsenic. While the mixture is hot, enough kerosene is stirred in to make it of the consistency of thick paint. When this application is thoroughly brushed in to the diseased parts, dip the hoof into a pot of shellac or boiled linseed oil and let the sheep stand in a concrete yard or on battens for an hour. The effect of kerosene and arsenic is to kill the germ which causes the damage, while the lard and sulphur has a soothing and healing effect, which promotes new, healthy horn growth. If the shellac or boiled oil is allowed to dry on the hoof before the sheep is turned out on to pasture, it excludes the air from the parts under treatment and prevents the moisture laden grass from washing the application off before s ramplele cure is effected. Uulcs> this precaution is taken the applies tioa is brushed off before the day it out thus allowing re-entry of germs to the wound from the infected soil. If one thorough treatment with this mixture is given, very few sheep will require further attention.

ROT IN THE LEG—TWO TREATMENTS,

The third and most severe and difficult to cure form of the disease is when the germs eat their way from the cleft into the flesh of the leg, and burrowing upwards ultimately reach the knee. This development, fortunately, is seldom encountered in sheep other than the Merino or Down sheep when pastured on unsuitable country. When it occurs the leg usually swells and becomes very inflamed, the disease may erupt through the skin, and almost always there i* an offensive discharge in the cleft. The treatment is usually a long one, and unless the animal is valuable, the least expensive method of treatment is to cut its throat. If, however ,it is decided to treat the sheep, make an opening to the diseased part as high up the leg as possible. and with a metal syringe inject the following solution.- Tincture of opium 1 dram, potash 2 drains, water 1 ounce. Keep the sheep where it can he treated every two or three dqys until a complete cure is effected.

Ou heavy soils and in damp localities where foot-rot is prevalent, the fanner should always equip his yards with a foot-rof race. The sheep can be made to walk through this race in the bottem of which a shallow trough or box is titted. Three to four inches is deep enough for the trough, which should be the full width of the race and fifteen to twenty feet long. With s trough either liquid or powder can be used. Bluestone in the proportions of 6oz to the gallon is efficient, but the writer has had most success using a shallow box and filling it with quicklime sulphur, and a small amount of arsenic. If the sheep are run through this powdered mixture every fortnight or so. and whenever they may be in the yards for drafting, etc., the disease will be checked in its early stages, and much Objectionable labour of paring and painting avoided. It is unnecessary, probably, to advise farmers who have land favourable to foof-rot germs not to purchase sheep of breeds particularly susceptible to attack, or those which have come long road journeys and with chafed and tender feet provide ideal subjects for attack. ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ REFRIGERATING CONDITIONS FOR FRUIT EXPORT, MR SIMSON’S CONCLUSIONS. In view of our recent article on this page advocating new methods of packing and refrigeration of fruit exported to England, the following extract from the report of Mr T. Simson, , general manager of the Auckland Farmers’ Freezing Company, will be read with interest by orchardists. Mr Simson has been engaged in conducting experiments regarding the possibility of carrying beef to England in a chilled state and has been successful in keeping it for fifteen weeks without deterioration. In the course of his remarks, he is reported as saying:— “Without attempting to detail the method of storage it may be stated that air circulation i 8 maintained throughout the process, and no use is made of anv preservative.” It i s stated by Mr Simson. who is a refrigerating engineer of many years’ experience, that the vessels carrying our primary products could be readily fitted to accommodate our products in a properly chilled and ventilated state. Meanwhile he advocates the use of the system for the carriage of fruit and cheese, and considers these commodities would be immeasurably benefited by its use in transport.