WRENCHING SHEEP FOR WORMS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3101, 20 August 1913, Page 17

WRENCHING SHEEP FOR WORMS.

Some results have been made available of tests made with drenches and treatments for worms in sheep at the Glen Innes Experimont Farm, Now South Walos. Discussing in general tlie subject of treatment for worms, the manager of the Glen limes farm indicated that outbreaks occurred at almost all times of the year; but stomach worms were most prevalent in middle and late summer, while lung worms occurred most frequently in the spring. Lambs generally do splendidly for a couple of months after they are dropped, but they begin then to go back. The most dangerous time seems to be just when they are weaned. They are missing the milk, and at the same time have to tackle the innutritions grass on which the worms arc harboured It has been sufficiently demonstrated, ho added, that while sheep are on good, nutritious feed they will resist to a large extent attacks of internal parasites; but as soon as the feed goes off, or they are put on poorer pastures, worms seem to become troublesome. The sheep pick up the eggs on long, rank grasses, we know; but they get them on short grasses, too, at times. Low, swampy land favours them all the year round. It seems probable, too. that lambs pick up worms even before they are weaned, for they will suck and mouth grasses before they bite them, fn that way they probably become infested. Worms have certainly been found in lambs before they were weaned. At any rate, the attacks seem worst just after weaning, and from that time right on into the winter. There are probahlv several infestations during the year at different seasons favourable to worms. Falling-off in condition and an inclination lo scour are generally accented as symptoms of these worms, and if such sheep are closely examined the blood will generally lie found in a poor condition. The in side of the lid of the eye, in good health, should ho rtreaked with red veins; but this is not the case when worms are bad. The drench used at Glen Tnncs farm for stomach worms is loz arsenic and 2oz washing soda dissolved in l|gal water. This provides sufficient to drench 240 grown sheep. For lamlis. the drench is made with 2Jga! water, and double {ho number of lambs (4801 are then treated. The operation is not nearly snob a, lengthy one as might be supposed. The 240 grown sheen can be drenched in a couple of hours. The operators (two in

number) should be near a gate, through which the sheep can bo passed into another yard. It has been observed that sheep generally improve and brighten up after this treatment, if the feed is fairly good—suoh, for instance, as natural pasture that is making fair growth. To be really effective, the sheep should be starved for 18 to 24 hours before. After drenching they should be left in the yard until it can bl» seen that they are beginning to chew tha cud, which will usually be about two hours later. If this last detention is not enforced it- will bo found that fcho sheep (having been in the yards for a day without food or drink) will rush to water as soon as they are released, and the drench will be washed straight through them without affecting its purpose. The administration should ba carried out with the sheep standing squarely on its feet in a natural position, and the head held slightly upwards. Many sheep have been lost by careless administration of drenches, and especially by elevating the head too much. The animal should be in such a position, that the liquid will ba swallowed in a natural way—not simply poured down the throat.