DIPPING SHEEP.

Otago Witness, Issue 3274, 13 December 1916, Page 8

DIPPING SHEEP.

Although sheep -dip ping is compulsory in New Zealand, only a comparatively few sheep-owners endeavour to do away with tick troubles altogether by dipping twice a year. Indeed it is not an uncommon thing to find some owners doing their best to dodge dipping entirely, being both careless of their neighbours' and bli»d to their own interests; and yet the benefits conferred by dipping are so obvious. Tho bodily comfort of the sheep when freed from parasites is assured, while the stimulating effect of a good dip on the skin of the animal ensures the best conditions ior growing sound and healthy fibre. The consequence being an improved, heavier, and better fleece, which naturally attracts the buyer's attention. The dipping should be done in strict accordance with the directions for mixing the clip, and the time required for passing the sheep through the dip, and there should be no increasing of the strength of the dip with the idea of killing the eggs, because no dip will do that without incurring considerable risk of harming the wool. If all sheep were dipped twice within the wool seasons there is little doubt but ticks would be eliminated as a pest of sheep. The history of the sheeptick (Melophagus ovinus) should be called to mind. The female tick lays three to five eggs at intervals of a few days, which hatch out in about three weeks, and the young tick matures in about 12 days, and is able to produce the first pupa. So that to make a clean sweep it would seem necessary that the second dipping should take place not less than four weeks after the first dipping, and under, say, 33 days. The tick will live off the sheep up to four days. EAves and lambs may be dipped together with some risk to the lamb in the case of a poisonous dip (but not a great deal with ordinary care), when the fleece has not dried sufficiently by the time the ewes and lambs are put together again; but this risk need net be run by using non-poisonous dip, which is quite effective enough for lambs. .If the lambs are dipped when very young there in some slight risk of premature weaning, and it is as well to wait until the lamb is old enough to satisfactorily fend for itself if necessary on good feed. Needless to say, it is sheer waste of good feed to put undipped lamb'3 on to succulent feed to fatten; tormented half the time by pests, and rubbing and scratching so that no commensurate flash gains are possible. "Thoroughness" should be tho slogan of the sheep-owners during the dipping period. No long and heating drives to the dipping-yards, and see that the sheep are rested after yarding if advisable. Finish the job early in the day. Lice should be looked "for in all unthrifty sheep, and great carefulness displayed in immersing thoroughly to get rid of all the vermin, which often e.-capes in the • ears of the shop, in a right handy place to recommence infesting the flock once more. Dipping won't grow wool on bare places, but it does, by promoting a healthy skin and effecting a freedom from irritating animals, tend to hasten the healthy growth of wool, so that the woolly parts produce a heavier weight of wool than would be obtained from a similar sheep in an undipped state. There is the fact, too, that as' result of thorough dipping the fattening properties are enlivened, and there is a greater and quicker increase of the lamb or mutton carcase as tho case may be. Flock-owners should consider their obligations to the Empire, to their neighbours, and to themselves, and question whether two dippings yearly will not pay. Sheep infected with ticks or lice cannot thrive to the" full extent they are capable, and depend upon it, the farmer cannot keep any more expensive class of live stock than ticks or lice, etc., in the fleece of his sheep during the fattening season.