2D PER SHEEP

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19373, 10 July 1937, Page 13

2D PER SHEEP

PULPY KIDNEY VACCINE SUPPLIES FOR FARMERS ISSUE BY GOVERNMENT COST PRICE CHARGED Supplies of vaccine for the prevention of pulpy kidney in lambs are available from the Government’s veterinary laboratory, Wallaceville, at cost price, estimated at less than 2d per sheep in the treatment of a few hundred ewes.

Advice to this effect has been received by Mr. F. R. Bould, senior dock inspector, Gisborne. He said that vaccination of in-lamb cwc-s prior fo lambing had been shown to be highly useful in lowering the mortal i!y which occurred in lambs from on loro-toxaemia, commonly known apulpy kidney. During '.he pad two seasons, as reported previously in the Herald, th ? Live Stock Division of the Depart meni of Agriculture has carried out experimental trials in this connection in the Otago district with vaccine prepared in the department’s veterinary laboratory at Wallaceville. The results of those trials, together with the reports on vaccination of sheep against entero-toxaemia in Australia, strongly support the view that vaccination can bo usefully employed to reduce losses from pulpy kidney in lambs. Vaccine From Australia The Minister of Agriculture, the Hon. W. Lee Martin, advised, Mr. Bould added, that in anticipation of a number of sheepfarmers who in some seasons lost lambs from pulpy kidney desiring to take advantage of this line of preventive treatment, arrangements had been made by the department to hold sufficient stocks of the vaccine at the Wallaceville laboratory. “The vaccine,” the Minister added, “is that prepared at the Commonwealth serum laboratories at Parkville, Victoria, and will be issued to farmers on request at cost price. In using the vaccine two injections are given to the ewes, the first (5 cc ) six weeks before lambing and the second (10 cc) two weeks before the commencement of lambing. In giving the innoculations a 20 cc record syringe and suitable needles are required. These requisites can be obtained from commercial firms. A Simple Process

“The technique of vaccination is not iifficult, and sheepowners in districts in which pulpy kidney disease of lambs is common will be shown the procedure by officers of the department. Where desired demonstrations of the method of vaccination will be given groups of interested farmers.” With regard to the cost of the vaccine, Mr. Martin stated that this would depend upon the quality ordered, but where not less than a few hundred ewes were to be treated the cost would be less than 2d per sheep. This outlay, he said, would appear to be a sound investment if losses in lambs were prevented thereby. The hope was expressed by the Minister that all sheepowners desirous of adopting the preventive vaccination of their ewes would get in touch with the nearest officer of the Live Stock Division or communicate direct with the officer in charge of the veterinary laboratox-y, Wallaceville, from whom particulars could be obtained.