FOOT-ROT IN SHEEP,

Otago Witness, Issue 1029, 19 August 1871, Page 9

FOOT-ROT IN SHEEP,

The following letter, which sets forth a very simple means of preventing footrot in sheep, was published in a recent number of the North British Agriculturist : — '' Sir — If you will kindly allow me apace in your valuable journal, 1 will briefly state my little experience witli regard to the prevention of foot-rot in sheep. A friend of mine, with whom I resided for some years, rented an old grass park, surrounding a gentleman's seat, where there was a great number of fine old trees. This field was notorious for foot-rot, beginning about the middle of July, and went on until the end of September. I have often seen fully the half of the sheep (250) affected at the same time, and really it was a most pitiable sight. We managed to cure a few with ' Cuff's Foot-rot Powder,' when taken in time. But upon the principle that prevention is better than cure, we set to work and tried various plans ; amongst others, we tried hot lime, and it had the desired effect so far, but then the drawback was, it only served a few times. We then thought of wet lime ; so then putting a cartload of small lime down at the entrance of the folds, and making it thoroughly wet, stirring it into mortar, keeping it deep enough to cover the sheep's feet, we ran them gently through this at most twice a week. The effect was most satisfactory, as we never had another case of foot-rot in the park during three years following, which was the extent of our lease. After adopt-

ing'the above treatment, we began to put the Hheep through the wet lime from the beginning of July to the end of September, and a single cart-load served the season. Care must be taken to have it pretty wet, sufficiently so to saturate their feet thoroughly. So that if any of your readers should feel inclined to try the above experiment, it is not an expensive one at all events, and I am sure they would not be disappointed. I am well aware sheep will take the footrot all the year round if folded on heated dung or foul fields, which should be avoided 113 much as possible. I will not venture to say how far liino will prevent it there, as I have never seen it tried for sheep kept in courts ; but it can be easily done, as well as in the fields. If it prevents it in one case, it ought to do it in the other, — I am, ivc,, C. S. A. "