ECZEMA'S TOLL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23021, 26 April 1938, Page 14

ECZEMA'S TOLL

SHEEP AND CATTLE hundreds destroyed ORGANISATION OF FARMERS [from oub OWN' correspondent] • HAMILTON, Monday Pathetic sights are being witnessed on practically every farm in the Waikato district-as hundreds of sheep and cows suffering fro'm facial eczema are being slaughtered daily. The disease is still increasing rapidly and tho toll on some farms has reached appalling proportions. Many methods of treatment are being experimented with by farmers and there have been some encouraging results, but nothing conclusive has yet been established. In some cases whole flocks have had to be destroyed by sending them to tho freezing works to be killed and boiled down for fertilisers. The disastrous results of the outbreak can be gauged by the magnitude of losses suffered by individual farmers. Before the outbreak Mr. L. H. Larner, of Kiwitahi, had 4000 sheep on his property, but at the end of this week not a single animal will be left. Nine hundred of his flock were trucked to the works last week, 1500 more were taken away by motor-lorry to-day, while the balance will go later in the Aveek. Tinned Milk Shortage Another prominent farmer, a neighbour of Mr. Larner, has lost his entire 6heep flock and cattle herd, and his family are using tinned milk. It was stated to-day that so great has been the demand for tinned milk among the farming community that this commodity is now unobtainable in Morrinsrille.

Farmers at Ohaupo and Tuliikaramea also continue to experience losses. Several have sent from 1000 to 0000 animals to the works, and have lost hundreds, and in some cases thousands, of pounds through the disease. An outstanding case is that of* one farmer who ha nothing but rough feed on his property and who has entirely escaped the trouble. His neighbours, with recently top-dressed pastures, have lost practically all their herds and flocks. State Farm Affected Nine cows and 300 sheep on the Ruakura State Farm are affected with facial eczema and some sheep hare died. Since Thursday the cows have been placed in bare paddocks and have- been fed on ensilage and hay. As a result there has been marked improvement in their condition. Experiments with dried yeast and cod liver oil have been carried out with sheep. Mr. W. C. Barry, director of the Livestock Division, will arrive in Hamilton tomorrow morning, and, after inspecting the experiments at Jtuakura, he will describe the results to a' meeting of farmers' representatives later in the day. '

Two cases have been reported where the disease has apparently attacked dogs, and if this is found to be correct .»many previous theories that eczema is a dietary trouble will be completely upset. No Abatement ot Disease Mr. R. Mclntyre, of Kereone, who has taken an active part in organising the farmers in an effort to combat the outbreak, stated to-day that there appeared to be no abatement of disease,, and that many new cases of herds and flocks being attacked had been reported to him. The sudden drop in the temperature over the week-end and the cold rains had added to the sufferings of the afflicted animals, and it was pitiable to watch them hugging -whatever shelter was available.

With the stock in a lowered physical condition owing to the effects of the •eczsma/thp change in the weather was likely to increase the mortality rate, said Mr. Mclntyre, who added that he thought all dairy stock should be covered wherever possible. The rain over the week-end Kid caused a further flush in the 'feed: and "was adding to the farmers' difficulties in handling the animals. Some farmers were shepherding their hierds and flocks on the untopdressed roughage on the roads and in this way were obtaining relief and were counteracting the effects of grazing the stock on new pastures. Treatment of Stock

Mr; Mclntyre pointed out that stock should he treated with hypo and saltpetre for only two days, as doses beyond that period might have a deleterious effect on them. The officers of the Agricultural Department had taken steps to carry out tests on six dairy herds and six flocks in the Morrinsville district, and as far as the sheep werG concerned had met with gratifying resuits. It was rather early to state what the effect of their experiments on dairy stock would be. A meeting of representatives of dairy farmers, sheep farmers, , dairy factory directors, Fanners' Union, and the Agricultural Department will be held in Hamilton to-morrow to consider further measures to be taken to combat the outbreak.

SPREAD IN TARANAKI MANY SHEEP AFFECTED [by telegraph —OWN correspondent] new PLYMOUTH, Monday Although facial eczema among sheep is not so prevalent in North Taranaki as in some other parts of the Dominion, notably the Waikato and the East Coast, the number of cases reported during the past few days indicates that the disease is spreading. ' The position in some flocks is really serious, large numbers of sheep being hopelessly affected, but in others comparatively few of the animals have contracted the disease, which fortunately is not contagious.

About 150 badly affected sheep were slaughtered at the Waitara works, and it is understood that most of these had come from one flock. About 100 sheep have been sent to the works from .another farm.