The "L.K.G."—The Only Successful Milking Machine.

Otago Witness, Issue 2812, 5 February 1908, Page 20

The "L.K.G."— The Only Successful Milking Machine.

It is easy enough to call a. milking) machine "new" and "improved," Jbut nqi machine ia worthy of your consideration until it has been tried and worked day in and day out tor at least two yean. The hard facts of daily experience are whatf oounk and the "L.K.G. is the only Milk-, ing Machine that has stood this test of practical working for nearly fix years, with' the result that it Jbas established a wortc^ wide reputation. — ■Writ© for further information and list of over 450 N.Z. fawners who have proved the value of the "L.K.G. 1 * to J. B. MapEwaa, ao4 Co.* Ltd., Sol©. Agent?* Dun.eoija*

Silsed only in North Otago, in view of th-3 lfact lhat it is in many parts of the world a verita.ble scourge, sheep-owners are cautioned to be on the lookout for its appearance among their flocks, and to take all possible precautions to prevent its spread as well as its ravages If in o'.der countries with small flocks, under constant supervision, the maggot m certain seasons is a constant source of worry and loss to farmers, how much more serious anight it not become in the Dominion, *rhe"re flocks are larger, and are not, anr] could only with difficulty be, subject to the same watchful care 1 This is well seen in certain parts of Aew Bouth Wales and Victoria, where of recent years a species of maggot-fly (the nature of which is apparently not yet definitely determined) has been playing havoc with cheep, and to such an extent that some reports mention 10 per cent, of cases as havfng occurred amongst certain flocks of ewes. — Description. — The fly which we have, demonstrated to le present here by hatching it from the larvae (iraggots) is that termed Lucilia sericata. Smaller than the ordinary "blue-bott.e, it is of a greenish-blue tint, but is otherwise similar in appearance, and is frequently confounded' with that fly. In mos*- countries where the sheep-maggot 5s plentiful the parent is popularly considered to be the common "blue-bottle ' (Oalliphora vomitoria), but this is erroneous. The ''Hue-botUe" lays its egs on carrion and like material, on which the larvae feed after hatching, but there is no evidence th&i they, are capable of existing and developing on the live animal— at least, they are "not capable of • penetrating the healthy skin. If they were, it is obvious that sheep-breading would have become almost »n impossibility in New Zealah'd long ago. The sheep-fly lays its eggs in the wool of sheep, particularly those whose wool is idirty. lambs and hoggets suffering from •diarrhoea and consequent soiling of the Jrindquarters being specially prone to attacks. Sheep and lambs which are free from soiled wool are not, however, exempt from attack when the fly is prevalent durang the summer months, particularly towards the- latter end 1 of the season. iShowery weather^ and long grass on dewy mornings, rendering the wool moist, seem fco exert an influence in attracting the fly. Naturally wounds and 1 abrasions of the skin otp also likely places of a+tack. \lthough the sheep is generally ce-n-teid&recl to Ik* a necessary Host for ±~h& mat?got, it is difficult to spe how this can be «■<», and it is most probable that any carrion in warm weather may offer a suitable place for' the deposition of esgs by the female -fly, and the subsequent devel«;jDient and growth of the larvse or maggots. •Dead 6heep, especially those loft unskinnod, in an-» case afford an excellent bre^dintr•BTound for the parasites, so that one of the first lines of defence is burial of all dead sheen so soon as found. In a eomwnratively short time after the eggs ore 'aid the voune maggots are hatched out. and immediately travel towards the skin, where thov induce irritation, and inflammation, which is cnlv aggravated by the attempts of fhe animal to obtain relief. Soon the maggots burrow ihroug'i the skin and pass betwfen that and the tnr«c'es. and if not observed early they ■will ultimately burrow very deeply, casps havm" b^en <?een by the writer in whioh ihev have eaten their war right into the abdominal oavity before death of the animal occurred. — S ym ptoms«-^ The s,yniDtoms consist, as may be expected, of attempts to-rerrove the cause of Jhe irritation by bitinar the part affected, 'frequent rubbing, rapid agitation of the tail, etc. ; but this can generally only be observed if the animal is undisturbed, and in the early stase3 before the skin becomes finsenbible. If the skin has become partially idestroyed before the affected sheep is seen, listlessness may be the only readily-dis-cerned evidence, but a careful observer may «— especially if the animal is attacked in the side, as lambs frequently are — detect a Hamp, dirty-looking patch of wool due to (discolouration by exudation from the skin, l^o repid is the whole coursp of events that, even in a carefully watched flock, cases of extensive damage are not rare, and sometimes even death is imDossib'e to prevent. — Preventive Measures. — In addition to the burial of dead sheep — iwhioh, by removal of a breeding-ground, prevents the increase of flies to a great extent — cleanliness of wounds and their proper antiseptic treatment, the maintenance of cleanliness of the hind-quarters' wool by j jcrutchinar, dagging, etc., where necessary, .will go far to prevent the fly " striking." Diarrhoea should be treated by removal to » different pasture, -and, if necessary, the provision of dry food. # In addition to all this, dipping by heaxs qw AN BFFBCTIVK lasting dip as a preventive is strongly recommended for any flock fin which the trouble has appeared, or is Jikely t& appear." —Curative Treatment. — This should be adopted immediatelr a jflieep is observed to be "blown." All dirty tor matted wool should be removed by the -shears, and a strong solution of non-poi-gONOTJS sheep-dip or other similar antiseptic applied to the part where the maggots are located. A good mixture for the purpose is one part of oil of turpentine to .three parts of olive oil, the whole being

well shaken up before applying. The greatest .care is necessary in- order to destroy all the maggots, as whenever the wroolw r ool is disturbed, and especially when it is being clipped, they immediately endeavour to bury themselves amongst the surrounding wool. It is always advisable, therefore, to examine a dressed animal on subsequent days in order to ascertain Tf any maggots have escaped, and especia'ly to be certain that it has not — as frequently happens — been again "struck."