“PINK ROT” IN FLEECE WOOL

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIV, Issue 21051, 1 June 1938, Page 3

“PINK ROT” IN FLEECE WOOL

BACILLI INFECTION NOTED RESEARCH OPINION Pink rot, an uncommon bacillary infection of the fleece, which results in a “break,” has been noticed in a number of flocks in Hawke’s Bay this season by Mr A. M. Moore, fields officer of the Fleece Testing Department of Massey College. Mr Moore arrived in Hawke’s Bay to commence fleece testing last week and, interviewed, stated that he had ssen a number of cases of it in the stud sheep he had tested. Because of that, he felt perfectly certain that it would be present in fleeces of flock sheep in the province. “The condition is most unusual m New Zealand and there is no need for farmers to become alarmed,” said Mr Moore. “Even in the worst affected flocks only a ’’ery small percentage of the fleeces will be affected and even n the worst fleeces more than half the wool will be sound.” Continuing, he explained that the parts of the fleece generally subject to pink rot were those behind the shoulder and along where the befiy wool poins the fleece wool. “Heavy skirting of occasional fleeces is all that will be necessary to meet the situation at shearing time,” he added. Fibre Goes Rotten The fibre goes rotten when affected with pink rot and in bad cases the wool goes definitely yellowish pink in colour, it was explained. Continued damp and humid conditions were given as the cause of the development of the organisms responsible, and because the rotten parts of the wool were about an inch away from the skin. Mr Moore attributed the cause of this bacillary infection to the weather conditions which ruled in the period between January and March. “Pink rot is occasionally present on articles of woollen clothing,” said Mr Moore, quoting a case where an Auckland man had sent a bathing costume down to Massey Colleg? to be examined. The costume had been left out m the open in rather humid weather in Auckland and when a few days later it was taken inside holes appeared. Moths were suspected, but it was seen that the wool had rotted. The report from Massey College revealed that Mr R. Wafers, senior officer in the Fleece Testing Department, had isolated six different types of baccillus, all of which had possibly contributed to the rotting effect. Further work showed that the organism responsible was bacillus vulgatus. “Two years ago it was almost unheard of in New Zealand,” Mr Moore concluded.