IODINE FOR STOCK.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20474, 28 January 1930, Page 16

IODINE FOR STOCK.

■«> PROMOTION OF HEALTH. Stock breeders throughout the world, are beginning to realise that iodine plays as important a part in the animal kingdom as it does among humans. Although required in comparatively minute quantities, iodine stands in a key position in the realm of mineral food stuffs. The presence or absence of iodine makes all the difference between an animal making the best use of the food consumed and failing to extract • the nutriment contained in either pasture or supplementary fodder. Information has recently come to band, which shows that the addition of small amounts of potassium iodide to the ordinary cereal rations of young growing stock, resulted in an increased assimilation and retention by the animals of the phosphates in the ration. Several well-known New Zealand breeders of stud sheep are now using considerable quantities of iodine, particularly in bringing out the hoggets. The effect is remarkable and not tho least impressive point is tho improved growth and lustre of the wool. Tho question of supplying this iodine, naturally comes up for consideration and farmers want to know how to set about administering such small quantities effectively. The, best way of doing this is to apply it to the land through a fertiliser, containing iodine. Then it is evenly distributed and each beast obtains all it requires, and gets it naturally. Among the phosphat'.c fertilisers at present on the market, Seychelles guano probably contains the most appreciable amount of iodine and on that account should be used more freely. Of the nitrogenous fertilisers, nitrate of soda, being a natural deposit, alone contains iodine and consequently has a very high value from a stock rearing point of view.