CARE OF SHEEP.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20339, 21 August 1929, Page 5

CARE OF SHEEP.

BT H.E.T.

LICKS FOR BREEDING EWES.

NECESSARY AT LAMBING TIME

j Sheepfarmers would Ic startled did j they realise the amount of mineral matter required by their ewes, both during the six weeks prior to lambing and until the lamb is weaned. A sheepfarrner friend who has, during the past year, supplied his sheep with a salt lick containing -also a quantity of lime and ground rock phosphate, remarked that while his ewes had patronised the iick fairly well throughout last summer and during early winter, they now seemed crazy for it. He found it necessary to fill the lick troughs every few days in the ewe paddocks, the ground surrounding them being tramped absolutely bare of grass. It has long been known that lime and phosphorus are used extensively by growing animals in building the skeleton and by the female during pregnancy, in developing the foetus and later in supplying milk to its young. It was generally supposed, however, that ordinarily good pasture grass contained abundant minerals for all the animals' wants. Of recent years, scientific research has.. disclosed the fact that a very large number of domesticated herbivorous animals suffer from diseases which are th 9 direct result of a shortage of mineral?, particularly lime, phosphorus and sodium. A Cause of Land Deterioration. Much of cur sheep land, which a few years ago, carried ewes which reared bonny lambs, has latterly deteriorated to buch an extent that now only dry owes or wethers can be profitably grazed oi; it. Most farmers have looked on this as being caused entirely by the exhaustion cf plant food from the soil and have set about rectifying the positiou bv top-dressing with super-phosphata where such treatment was economic. In many instances, however, a' return to ewe standard could have been secured without top-dressing had the grazier realised that his breeding animals were being starved of those minerals which are essential for the production of strong, wellgrown, healthy lambs, and which could have been provided very cheaply per medium of a lick containing the necessary ingredients. It is not meant by this that topdressing for greater growth of ir.ore nourishing grass can be done away with, and a salt lick substituted with equal results, but it is quite possible by means of a mineral lick, to bring back country to a ewe standard, which has deteriorated and will not grow healthy lambs. Effects of Mineral Deficiency. It has been conclusively demonstrated that a cow receiving a ration low in lime content will abort her calf. On the other hand, if to that ration a certain amount of lime salts is added, there is a marked improvement in the health of the offspring. It has also been proved that milk fever in dairy cows is the direct result of an abnormal demand for lime made on the blood and frame of the cow when lactation commences. Similar condition exists with the ewe, although because the milking capacity haj not been abnormally developed, as in th» dairy cow, the demand for lime is thcrofore not so great and milk fever is 4 'comparatively rare trouble. Premature births, weedy constitution, rickets, and a number of other troubles with young sheep can, however, be traced directly to a shortage of minerals available to the ewe. Phosphorus promotes digestion and good general health, and like lime, is largely used in the formation of the skeleton. It also has been proved to increase the rapidity of growth and fattening, while it fortifies the powers of reproduction. _ It is in these directions that top-dressing with phosphate largely benefits the sheep which secures its phosphorus through the grass and therefore in the most readily assimilated form. Kesistance to Parasites.

An abundance of minerals also improves the animals' appetite, fortifies it against the attacks- of such parasites as liverfluke, intestinal worms, etc., and prevents " perverted" appetite which leads to the eating of all sorts of rubbish ia an effort to satisfy the craving for minerals.

Mr. I*. C. Aston, chemist to the Department of Agriculture, stresses the need for minerals in the diet of, all animals when he says:—"lt has bc-en proved by experiment "that an animal will die sooner on a diet which is entirely deficient in mineral matter than another animal which is given 110 food at all." It must be obvious therefore, that at this season of the year, particularly when his ewes r.equire abnormal amounts of minerals to feed their growing lambs, the health of the ewe and the growth of tho lamb to early profit demands that the farmer must supply them with a _ lick _ containing tho necessary ingredients. There are a number of proprietory licks on fhc market which contain tho minerals animals require, _ but should the farmer wish to economise ha can mix his own salt lick comparatively cheaply. Details of the ingredients and proportions have been given in these pagrs from time to time. The great essential is that, however provided; the ewe» should have abundant minerals availabi* if healtbv lambs are to be reared.