SHEEP FARMING

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 254, 24 September 1935, Page 8

SHEEP FARMING

TROUBLE WITH FLOCKS. EFFECT OF THE WEATHER. Adverse weather conditions and the prevalence of facial eczema last season—the latter even still existent in certain restricted areas—have adversely affected the lambing percentages in the Manawntu district, it was learned by a “Standard” reporter to-day. It was explained by one informant that the facial eczema, which was a baffling problem to many because it would not respond in some instances to treatment which had been successful elsewhere, has left an aftermath which is viewed seriously by both stud flock and run flock owners. “Owing to the extraordinary weather conditions experienced during the lambing period on the lower country it is conservatively estimated that the mortality in lambs to date is approximately 10 per cent,” said the representative of a firm whose calling keeps him intimately connected with sheep farmers. “The mortality in ewes is also heavier than usual, approximately 7 per cent, in addition to the ordinary troubles in breeding ewes at this period of the year. “Several farmers have reported that they are losing some of their best conditioned ewes, and, to all appearances, for no reason. A number ol farmers state that whereas when the disease known as facial eczema was prevalent they felt rather jubilant that their own flocks were free of it, but now when their flocks are in the midst of lambing they are meeting with quite a number of troubles which they attribute to the disease.” Prospects earlier in the season were for a very good year, and they were still bright, another authority commented. The outlook for the sheepfa rmer had been rather dimmed by the backward state of the pastures, but they were not faced with the greatei problem of the dairy farmers, he said, Taking the position generally, it was the worst season experienced for a number of years.