DISEASES OF STOCK

Patea Mail, Volume XLVI, 27 August 1923, Page 3

DISEASES OF STOCK

AN INTERESTING LECTURE An interesting lecture under the auspices of the Waverley A. and P. Association was delivered on Friday by Mr W. T. Collins, M.R.C.V.5.,, superintendent of the Veterinary Division of the Department of Agriculture, the subject being “The Diseases of Stock. ” Mr Gregor McGregor presided over a xair attendance of farmers. The chairman, in introducing the speaker, said that the financial success of the country depended upon the successful working of the pastoral industries. Tremendous losses were sustained every year through various diseases in stock. Bound and practical advice was needed to overcome these losses. Mr Collins had come along at the invitation of the A. and P. Association to help in this direction, and he had much pleasure in offering him a cordial welcome.

Mr Collins said he was very pleased to be present, and would do what he could to enlighten them on the diseases that were troubling stock. Mr Collins commenced -by describing the disease of worm in lambs. This, he said, was caused by a stomach worm. The damage was caused through blood-sucking in the fourth stomach, which caused the sheep to lose condition and in bad cases eventually caused death. TREATMENT Many things had been tried, but the most successful was a drench of bluestone solution at a proportion of loz in 5 pints of water. The dose for a sixmonths lamb was about 2oz. It was best to start drenching about March, and to do so once in two or three weeks. In drenching, leave the lamb standing on its legs, and drench slowly, in order that the solution cun reach the fourth stomach. The same treatment applied to calves, except that the dose was doubled. Ninety-Jive pier cent of deaths in lambs were caused through worm. The bearing trouble in ewes that occurred from seven to fourteen days before lambing was chiefly caused through lack of exercise, which brought on livertrouble. In this complaint prevention was better than cure. Do not overfeed, in order to prevent excess internal fat, and give the ewes frequent changes of pasture and plenty of exercise. FOOTROT This year, on account of wet weather, had been a bad year for footrot. Experiments had been carried out to find out if the disease was contagious, but so far they had not been able to convey it from one sheep to another. .Sheep free from the disease had been put in with some bad cases for some weeks, but the sheep remained sound. The Department had never been able to prove definitely that footrot was contagious.

TREATMENT The first thing to do was to cut away the rotten part as much as possible, and thou use a dressing of bluestoue and tar. In bad cases a 10 per cent, solution of blucstone was more effective, as it had a better chance of getting into the crevices. The same treatment was beneficial in cases of scald. Sleeping sickness in ewes was caused by digestive trouble, brought on by fatty liver. A dose of salts and as J % much exercise as possible and young grass as a tonic was the best treatment. Mr Collins also dealt with diseases in cattle, which he said were principally caused through germs picked up on the pastures. In cases of abortion the cow should be removed from the paddock and well washed out with warm water. The use of strong disinfectants should be avoided. A weak solution of Coudy's was all right. Experiments were being carried out with vaccine, but so far were not very successful. Absolute cleanliness and weak disinfectants were the best preventatives. In conclusion Mr Collins urged farmers who had suspicion that their stock were infected with the germs of abortion to take a sample" of their blood and send it to the Government Laboratory at Wallaceville. At the conclusion of the lecture, Mr P. Johnston moved that a hearty vote of thanks be accorded Mr Collins for his interesting and instructive address. Seconded by Mr W. Davis and carried by acclamation.