TROUBLE AMONG SHEEP

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 June 1941, Page 3

TROUBLE AMONG SHEEP

SWOLLEN HOOF PREVALENT. FOOT ROT SAID TO BE BAD. A Masterton farmer writes as follows: —“There is a considerable amount of swollen hoof trouble among sheep this season, in the district. Mr Hankins. a former “vet,” gave us a very good cure for it —put the hoof in a clean rag and use a mixture of half burnt lime and half boracic powder. I have, myself, added some dry sulphur in the case of some sheep, and I think this improves the mixture. In treating a case the farmer should place a handful of the mixture round the hoof, tie it up, and place a piece of sacking cornerways round it. This should be tied on fairly tightly and left for about a week. Then take it oft.' for one or two days and repeat the process until a cure is effected. Foot rot is bad, too, in the district. I believe in paring the hoof right down, because you cannot expect a cure unless you get light down to the seat of the trouble. The mixture used must come in direct contact with the affected part. Sometimes you can pare the hoof right down to the bare flesh. To got a cure quickly squeeze tightly under the hoof and cut off, say, half the tip and put the mixture on, squeezing tight all the time. The hoof should be right in a week.