DOSING OF LAMBS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20672, 10 March 1937, Page 3

DOSING OF LAMBS

MUCH CARE NEEDED INJURIES LIKELY THROUGH ROUGH HANDLING At the present time many farmers are engaged in the work of dosing their lambs with a view to combating internal infestation. Several methods are adopted in this work, which is naturally carried out as quickly as possible, but much care is required, especially where appliances with metal tubes for inserting in the iambs’ mouths are used, if injury to the lambs is to be avoided. An appliance commonly known as a pistol is frequently used in dosing lambs on many properties, and although the work is generally completed quite satisfactorily, there have oeen several cases in recent years where carelessness in the use of the instrument has brought about injury to the lambs’ throats; followed by fairly severe losses. Swelling developing around the neck of the lamb after dosing frequently indicates that the throe of the lamb has been injured during the process, and such trouble frequently leads to complications and the death of the animal. The cause of the trouble may not be realised immediately by the farmer concerned, but in the majority of cases it has been traced to the method employed in carrying Out the dosing rather than to any fault with the mixture used in the dose.

Probably the most satisfactory way in which to dose lambs is to run them through a race, where they can be securely held by one man while a second applies the instrument and delivers the dose into the opened mouth. There is no need to force the -metal tube right down the throat. In fact it is dangerous to do so in view of the likelihood of injury to the tissues. If a race is not employed in dosing, the lambs have too much opportunity for movement, which may in itself cause the tube to jar against the throat and bring about an injury.