ECZEMA IN SHEEP

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23060, 10 June 1938, Page 5

ECZEMA IN SHEEP

VARIED SYMPTOMS

QUESTION OF POISON

ERGOT SUGGESTED HY rAPATOKTOE The fact that sheep eczema is not contagious; that among the affected animals there is a heavy death rate, and that the animals examined after death all show signs of the trouble in the liver, indicates that, whatever tlfe cause, it finds its way into the blood and operates as a poison. Some of the associated symptoms such as udder ulceration, general malaise, wasting, and even paralysis, indicate the widespread action of the poison throughout the body.

All these symptoms, both the acute and the chronic, have been described in text-books dealing with the subject, and are ascribed definitely to ergot poisoning. There is no other poison described as producing such a diverse variety of symptoms. It is well known that many farmers have never been happy about ergot, and have taken steps to obviate known ill-effects it might have 011 stock by close-cropping their ergotised grasses, rye grass and paspalum particularly. Risk Irom Spores If .this eczema trouble is caused by ergot, or even if ergot be a factor, we have not completely eliminated the risk to our stock by close cropping. The spores of ergot are very fine, and scatter iike powder, and this season on some of the pastures, blades of grass covered by fungoid spores have given the appearance of lamp-black, so thickly has this powdered deposit been scattered. The spores remain alive through the autumn and winter to become active 'again in the spring. Where they lie, aud how dangerous they may be in this form, I do not know, but that they are alive and are a source of danger is emphasised by the virility of the ergot fungus growth this . year, when few pastures have escaped its ravages. Speaking generally, the pastures where the worst and most numerous cases have occurred, have been heavily ergotised. That cases have occurred on close cropped pastures calls for their closest scrutiny. In one instance of this kind where oidy a few sheep developed eczema, it was found that they were feeding in an orchard where there was seeded rye-grass heavily ergotised. With the possibility that ergot maybe responsible, the condition of boundaries, walls and fences should be carefully examined.

Department's Positive Attitude

It is difficult in view of such experiences as these (and every farmer knows similar variations of the story), to accept the departmental officials assertion that, whatever may be the cause of eczema, "ergot is not responsible." Practical farmers are compelled to excercise their own judgment, and in the meanwhile, I suggest that they will be wise if they show their respect for the prOven poisonous qualities' of ergot and take the necessary steps to reduce it to a minimum. It is not suggested that ergotised pastures, under any circumstances, can produce the effects described. It may be, and probably .is, that there are associated factors, in the presence of which ergot becomes active and poisonous. Ten years ago and longer, the possibility was suggested that ergot occurred only when the grass lacked certain vitamins. On the other hand, it may be that there are minerals lacking in the soil, or that chemical substances, possibly the result of artificial fertilising, may be associated factors. Even conceding these, the dominant poison operating must be considered in the light of the symptoms produced, to be ergot, whatever chemical combinations are subsequently formed in the body and in the blood of the animals.