RAILING OF SHEEP

Southland Times, Issue 22731, 6 November 1935, Page 9

RAILING OF SHEEP

FARMERS’ COMPLAINTS ABOUT BRUISING DEPARTMENT’S REPLY The following statement was made yesterday by the district traffic manager of New Zealand Railways, Mr J. A. Lindsay, in reply to criticism made at the meeting of Provincial Executive of the Farmers’ Union on Saturday in regard to the railing of sheep:— Under the auspices of the Otago Provincial Council of the Farmer’s Union a conference was held about two years ago of representatives of the farming community, the managers of each _of the three Otago freezing works, leading stock buyers and representatives from the Departments of Agriculture and Railways to consider the question of bruising of stock. That the position was serious was shown by the fact that approximately 200,000 lambs were rejected or graded second quality in New Zealand the previous year on account of bruising. Figures taken out by the freezing companies showed that approximately 3 per cent, of the stock railed, 2.1 per cent, lorried and 1.9 per cent, driven to the works were rejected or graded second quality on account of bruising. As the average distance for stock driven to railhead and freezing works is about the same, the fact stands out that almost two-thirds of the damage done to stock was caused before it was trucked or received at the freezing works. If a similar investigation were made in Southland it would no doubt be found that the averages were much the" same. The figures would then be 1.1 per cent, bruises on rail and 19 per cent, bruises while being mustered and driven to the station. The statement made that the facilities offered by the Railway Department are the chief cause of so many rejects is therefore not correct.

After a comprehensive investigation, the chief causes of bruising as it affects the farmers were summarized as follows, and attention to these facts by farmers would do much to cut down their loss by bruising. It should be understood, of course that all other parties concerned are doing their utmost to cut the loss by careful handling of stock:—

(1) Bruises are found mostly on the shoulders and on the back below the shoulders caused by grabbing, pushing, or lifting the lambs by the wool during loading and diafting operations. (2) Adequate facilities for drafting are not provided on certain farms—sheep yards are badly constructed and unsuitable for yarding lambs. Lambs are put into yards full of feed, and crushing and rupture is frequently caused.

(3) Bruising is caused through rough handling while crutching operations are in progress prior to sending to the works—usually within 48 hours of killing. (4) Bruising is caused by badly constructed fences and gaps in fences where stock can get through. Further, there is considerable damage done to lamb pelts through barb wire scratching.

(5) Lambs should not be trucked immediately they come off feed. They should have at least eight hours completely off feed, either grass or rape, before being trucked. (6) Lambs should not be trucked immediately on arrival at the railhead. If they are loaded in a sweating condition after a long drive, they lie down and are crushed, resulting in a heavy percentage of bruised carcasses.

(7) Trucks should not be overloaded —the number of lambs to each truck being judged by the circumstances of each case.

(8) Farmers should use “la” trucks only as a last resource when trucking stock. (9) Sheep and lambs wherever possible should not be loaded into the same truck.

(10) Badly trained dogs are frequently the indirect cause of bruised lambs.