SHEEP MORTALITY AT DIPPING.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18466, 18 May 1928, Page 2

SHEEP MORTALITY AT DIPPING.

IRRITANT INHALED - CAUSING PNEUMONIA, IS SUGGESTION MADE. At the annual conference of the Mid-Canterbury provincial district of the Farmers’ Union, held at Ashburton yesterday, the question of losses among sheep was discussed with Messrs E. J. Lukey (veterinarian), F. M’Kenzie (chief inspector of stock), and J. W. Smith (inspector of stock at Ashburton ). Mr Lukey said the deaths in every case inquired into occurred on the third or fourth day of the first dipping of the season, and were due to pneumonia. It was also seen that it was the first sheep through the dip that succumbed. In cases w’here sheep were dying they were killed, and it was found that the lungs were hard, like liver, and inflamed. Other organs were inflamed, showing that some irritant had been taken in by the sheep. A common case was when sheep were dipped in the afternoon and took a chill at night before they had become dry. The condition met with in his investigations was that the dipping material had been taken into the lungs, causing mechanical pneumonia. They could not find the actual cause of death for certain, but had to blame a combination of unknown causes. He thought the dip materials could be eliminated from the cause. It was an essential to have soft water for mixing-dips, but this year the race water, ail coming from springs, was hard and the emulsifying materials taken up, and the dangerous creosotes released floating to the top. In the dipping months the sheep would be heated to a certain extent, and their breathing w'ould be laboured. When they went into the dip they would gasp, taking the creosotes into the lungs. He urged the mixing of dips strictly according to the instructions of the manufacturers: Mr M’Kenzie supplemented Mr Lukey’s remarks. Many dips, he said, were blamed for the trouble whereas the water was often at fault, and he urged farmers to see that a perfect emulsion was obtained before the sheep were dipped. He had found that rams and lambs were those that died. He would not advise the dipping of sheep while they had full stomachs, for 'they were then unable to hold their breath under the water to the same extent. air J. R. Bagrie said the dip seemed to fizz for a time after mixing, and he thought the deaths were due to some gas breathed in by the sheep. He was sure the dips -were the cause of the deaths. Mr M’Kenzie said the mortality was not general. It was confined to patches in different districts. There were 11,000 sheepowners in the Ashburton County, and only a few were concerned, and all in a more or less restricted area. Members of the conference gave personal experiences in dipping. Mr Lukey said he found no particular dip that caused death more than any other. Votes of thanks were accorded Messrs Lukey and M’Kenzie.