FARMERS' UNION.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCVIII, Issue 15162, 4 October 1913, Page 10

FARMERS' UNION.

ST. ANDRE YYB BRANCH. VETERINARY I^iviONSTRATION. A lecture was given under the aiis.Library Hall jaifteriioon by Mr A. M. jfaEej.sau 3 Government Veterinarian. 'l'nere was an at&e±±uauce" of between twenty and. tnircy liU'iners and Mr d. i/acei'sun, onan-inan ox tne Dra-ten presided. Owing to several farmers m tne district • navuig lost some 01 their best lambs, two oi.fchehi brougnt dead ones to tJie meeting; on tke tnat Mr Paterson could ascertain tne cause of their death. Mr Paterson operated on tJie lambs in full view of the audience, ana snowocl mail very pla.n y taut the cause of the death of both lambs was defective kidneys, brought about by over feeding. There was no sign of any ooh-tr aliment, tae iUiig., a~.vi-.ua other organs being normally sound., Mr Paterson suggested i'hat the only remedy for this complaint was. to remove both ewe and lamb to poorer feed. Several -'members asked if a rape food, was injurious to ewes and lambs, and Mr Paterson said that the best feed for them was grass and not too much Italian rye gr.ujs, as tnis particular varitsuy was apt to grow too strong and tough. Sir Paterson then ..dealt w ; th the treatment of mares, both beforehand after foaling. Farmers should be careful not to work mares in the midd'le, nor between the shafts of implements when nearing foaling, and the practice of working mai-es right up to within a day or two of foaling was not harmful, provided the farmer used ordinary care. At the conclusion of this lecture several questions were put to Mr Paterson nnd werei answered to the,entire saisfaction of all present., '.'■".. A hearty vote of thanks to the lecturer for his most interesting address was carried unanimously.