INFECTED SHEEP.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXIII, Issue 7562, 29 May 1885, Page 6

INFECTED SHEEP.

TO THE BDITOB. Sib, —As the session is now rapidly approaching, I wish to call our members’ attention to a subject which demands legislation. I refer to the question of how to deal with the large numbers of sheep infected with foot-rot which are now passing from yard to yard, and from farm to farm, spreading disease all over the country. An Act, and a stringent one, has been passed dealing with the comparatively unimportant subject of sheep infected with lice, and I maintain that, under slightly modified conditions, foot-rot should also be dealt with by law. I do not propose domiciliary visitations of Inspectors to flocks running on the owners’ properties, but would suggest that an Act be passed, making it compulsory on owners of public saleyards to have a proper race and trough for running diseased sheep through, and also a dip. The Inspectors could then order any diseased or infected sheep to be dealt with before leaving the yards; and if , the is established that the vendor shall in all cases pay the expense, two objects will be attained: first, the - mitigation of the spread of disease ; and, secondly, vendors, knowing the trouble and expense which would be incurred by sending diseased sheep to market, would, at all events, endeavour to have appliances on their own properties to make their sheep in marketable order before sending them in for sale. The foot-rot question is a very serious one, and legislation is urgently called for to prevent the spread of this most disastrous disorder. ■» I venture to think that the means I have proposed would meet the approval of stock-owners and dealers, and I do not think it would press hardly on the owners of saleyards, as the charges for dipping and treating for foot-rot would recoup the expense. These charges, if necessary, could be fixed by law. Briefly I therefore propose :—lst.- That every public saleyard shall be compelled to have suitable appliances for dipping and treating foot-rot. 2nd. That the provisions of the present Act with regard to lice shall apply to all sheep yarded’for sale and found to be infected with foot-rot.—l.am, &c., SCRUTATOR.