LOSS OF LAMBS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 156, 3 June 1937, Page 16

LOSS OF LAMBS

TOLL OF ARTHRITIS. PREVENTIVE AIETHODS EXPLAINED. Evidence of the huge toll of arthritis amongst lambs in New Zealand was produced in the course of a lecture prepared by Air W. G. Barry, Director of the Live Stock Division of the Department of Agriculture, and delivered by Dr. Hopkirk, of the AVallaeevillo laboratory, to the conference of sheep farmers at Alassey College yesterday. It was stated that approximately 12,0U0 lambs during the last killing season were found to 1m affected with tlie disease, and tlie paper fully outlined preventive measures. ( The lameness produced in young lambs by this joint infection, due to an inflammation, was a matter with which many farmers were familiar, it was stated. It was a question of. considerable economic importance. It resulted in the partial condemnation of many carcases, the most commonly condemned portion being the leg. Apart from the waste occasioned by condemnation, tlie disease was responsible for an economic loss to the slice]) farmer through the setback which it brought about in affected lambs in a flock. Even slightly affected lambs took a considerable time to recover from the check received. The most susceptible-age was up to three or four months, and the most common time when lameness among lambs was noticed was about a week or a fortnight after the lambs had been marked. It had been ascertained that a large percentage of cases occurred in wether lambs, and this was to be expected as the disease was a wound -infection, the inference being that the operation wound offered an increased avenue of entry to the germ. LOSS OF CONDITION.

Lambs affected showed evidence of pain when attempting to place weight on the affected leg. There was a consequent disinclination to move, which accounted for a rapid loss of condition, duo to partial starvation. Complete recovery usually took place in probably 80 per cent, of the cases within a month of the onset of symptoms. In chronic cases deformity of the joints usually resulted. . The most important consideration in regard to the disease was its prevention. Curative measures were useless, but prevention was possible if certain precautions were observed at marking time. On farms where the disease was known to occur, docking should he carried out on a fresh site, the yards previously used for this purpose being avoided. All instruments should be sterilised by boiling before use and frequently immersed in antiseptic solution during the operations. In selecting the site for temporary yards for marking, a well-grassed area should be chosen. After marking the lambs on the rail of the outer fence, care should be taken to place them on their feet and allow them to run away in a clean grass paddock. To allow them to simply drop to the ground and possibly fall on their tails and into the dirt was running unnecessary risks. Regarding the use of antiseptics, a too irritant solution must not be employed, it was added. A 1 per cent, solution (about one and a-lialf ounces to the gallon of water) of any of the standard disinfectants would be sufficient. It was desirable to apply the solution to the skin before operating and docking were actually performed, as well as after. The use of a syringe by which the solution could be quickly “jetted” on to the parts by ay assistant standing alongside the operator was worthy of consideration. The use of the emasculator or bloodless operating instrument gave satisfactory results when properly employed and might be considered on farms on which arthritis in lambs was common. By its use, one avenue of infection—the operation wound—was eliminated. With regard to docking, it was held that'the use of the red iron was generally followed by less trouble and it was practicable tbat rapid searing of the tail after severance with the knife would prove useful in the prevention of infection. A number of legs showing enlarged stifles and hocks which had been condemned at the freezing works were exhibited. After answering several questions, Dr. Hopkirk was accc/ided a vote of thanks.