LOSSES AMONG LAMBS

Southland Times, Issue 23444, 26 February 1938, Page 19

LOSSES AMONG LAMBS

Concern Catised in Canterbury INVESTIGATIONS BEGUN Mr A. H. Cockayne, Director-General of Agriculture, has issued a statement on the question of the lamb mortality which has been causing so much anxiety to many flock masters in different parts of Canterbury during the last few months. Mr Cockayne says that these losses have also caused anxiety to the local officers of the Department of Agriculture, who have been straining every effort to help farmers as much as possible to determine the cause of the mortality. Owing, however, to the widespread occurrence of losses among lambs, and the varying conditions under which such losses occur, it became evident that a thorough investigation into the whole position was very necessary, and with this end in view a meeting was held in Christchurch, at which Mr Cockayne was present. Mr W. C. Barry, Director of the Live Stock Division, Dr C. S. M. Hopkirk, of the Wallaceville Veterinary Laboratory, and Mr WD. Blair, ' district superintendent, Christchurch, were also in attendance, Lincoln College being represented by Professor E. R. Hudson and Dr Franklin. As a result of this meeting an extensive survey into the various factors leading up to lamb mortality has been planned. Two departmental veterinarians—Messrs Knott and Ewer—have been detailed for that purpose, and have already begun work in the Lincoln and Ellesmere districts. It is intended to cover the whole of Canterbury in the investigation. The Department of Agriculture is being greatly assisted by Lincoln College, Dr Franklin entering into the investigation from the feed and analytical viewpoint. It is generally accepted that the usual feed conditions prevailing this summer, with high rainfall during the month of January, have been responsible for a backward condition of lambs, with rather heavy incidence of parasites, and there is evidence that parasites play an important part in the losses occurring. With the view of gaining more detailed information on the parasite question, the department is sending a parasitologist to Christchurch for the purpose of conducting special investigational work into this particular aspect. On some farms it has already been shown that lambs are .dying from entero-toxaemia, which is a similar condition to “pulpy kidney” of very young lambs. The occurrence of this condition in lambs after weaning has not been very common in the past, and its development calls for special inquiry. In the prevention of such losses vaccination of lambs can be resorted to, and this feature will receive special consideration. Many sheep farmers have noticed the association of deaths with rape feeding, and this aspect will also be covered in the survey, and arrangements for full analytical data are being provided for. Messrs Knott and Ewer will begin their inquiries in the Lincoln and Ellesmere districts. It is intended later on to place Mr Ewer in the Ashburton district to continue the work there.

Expenditure involved in these investigations is being partly provided by the Department of Agriculture and partly by the New Zealand Wool Publicity Committee out of its levy funds.