"PULPY KIDNEY"

Taranaki Daily News, 17 July 1937, Page 19 (Supplement)

"PULPY KIDNEY"

disease affecting lambs. VACCINATION OF EWES URGED. Vaccination of in-lamb ewes prior to lambing has been shown to be highly useful in lowering the mortality which occurs in lambs from entero-toxaemia Cpulpy kidney). During two seasons past the Live-Stock Division of the Department of Agriculture has carried out experimental trials in this connection in the Otago district with vaccine prepared at the department's veterinary laboratory at Wallaceville. The results of these trials, together with the reports on vaccination of sheep against entero-toxaemia in Australia, strongly support the yiew that vaccination can be usefully employed to reduce losses from pulpy .kidney in lambs. Commenting on the matter the Muiister of Agriculture, the Hon. W. Lee Martin, stated that in anticipation of a number of sheepfarmers who in some seasons lost lambs from pulpy kidney,. desiring to take advaiitage of this line of preventive treatment, arrangements had been made to " hold sufficient stocks of the vaccine at .the Wallaceville laboratory. The vaccine is that prepared by the Commonwealth Serum Lahoratories at Parkville, Victoria, and will be issued to farmers on request at cost price. In using the vaccine two injections r are given to the ewes, the first (5 c.c.) six weeks before lambing, and the second (10 c.c!.) two weeks before conpnencement of lambing. In giving the inoculations a 20 c,c. Record syringe and suitabie needles are required; these requisites can ,be obtaincd from commercial firms. The technique of vaccination is hot difflcult, ahd sheepowhers iri distriqte .in which' pulpy kidney disease of lambs is common will be.show: the procedure.by officers of the department. Where desired, , demonstrations of the method oi vaccination will be given tb groups of interested farmers. With regard to the- cost of the . vaccine, the Hon. Lee Martin stated that this would depend on the quantity ordered, but Where not iess 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 is expressed by the Minister ,that all sheepowners desirous of adoptipig the preventive - vaccination of their ewes would get in touch with the nearest offlcer, of the Live-Stock Division or communicate direct with the officer-in-charge, veterinary laboratory, Wallaceville, from whom further particulars could be obtained.