DISEASE IN SHEEP.

Waikato Times, Volume XV, Issue 1325, 25 December 1880, Page 3

DISEASE IN SHEEP.

To prevent many disorders which afflict sheep it is necessary to keep them in an equal state of. flesh throughout the year, and not, as is the practice of some flockmasters, at one season make the sheep half fat and at another time half starve them ; such management necessarily injuringboth their constitution and the quality of their fleeces. If proper care is taken stockowners have little reason to complain as to the healthiness of all kinds of liva stock. „ There are very few countries in which stock is as little liable to disease as in our own. It is probable, however, that the mortality among our flocks and herds will increase as the country become older and becomes more heavily stocked. But there is no doubt that this climate is peculiarly favourable to all kinds of stock. The rapidity with which a wound inflicted upon an animal will heal in this country is such as to call forth the surprise of those who have been accustomed to the management of stock in Britain. In respect to the general healthiness of stock we appear, so far, to have an advantage over the neighbouring colonies of Australia. The Australian stockowners have for some years suffered severe losses through the ravages of liver-rot or fluke The dibease is contageous, but is to be attributed entirely to the condition of the soil. It appears to be chiefly confined to districts in which the land is "of a damp, low-lying nature, and where it has not been sufficiently drained. This rot is one of the oldest known diseases, and may be found in almost every country in Europe. Youatt calculates that, in Britain alone, more than one million of sheep and lambs, die every year of rot. The same writer also states than in the year 1830 that number was more than doubled, aud that if the pestilence had committed the aame ravages throughout the kingdom that it did in some districts, the breed of sheep would almost have been extirpated. The disease is promoted by the miasma exhaled from j vegetable matter in a state of decomposition. In a dry, frosty season it seldom appears, but may be expected in warm, damp weather. During the first stages of the disease the sheep rapidly gain flesh. This phase is so marked that Ba":eweli the originator ef the Leicester breed, was in the habit of turning it to account, in preparing sheep rapidly for the market. His custom was to overflow some of his pasturage, and turn the sheep on immediately the water ran off. They at once became affected with rot, and fattened with great rapidity. He sold ' them to the butcher before the more serious symptoms of the disease began to manifest themselves, and was thus enabled to gain some five or six weeks upon bis neighbours. This was utilising the resources of bis farm with a vengeance, aud shews the great breeder to have been a man who knew how to "make the most of things." But the plan is not here to be recommended. The abnormal develop, ment of fat, however, does not last long. The.eneep begins to lone fat as fast as he at first gained it ; instead of the usual pink tinge the skin assumes a yellow colour, and the fine vessels of the eyes become infected with a yellow fluid. These are sure signs that the liver is diseased, and that the bile is beginning to 'mingle with the blood. As the disease becomes more advanced, livid patches appear in the skin, the wool falls off, the breaik- becomes offensive, the belly swells, and finally the animal becomes re-duced-to a skeleton and dies. . "When tine liver of the sheep is examined after death, the evidence of severe inflammatory action is plainly visible, and the ducte axe fonnd'to be crowded by

thousands of parasiteE called flukes. How these parasites get there is a mystery, and it is uncertain whether they are the oause or the effect of the disease. These entoza, which in form somewhat resemble fish without fins, are said to exist in small numbers in the liver of every hijrh-con-ditioned cheep, and are thought by the majority of men who have given attention to this subject, to aot in some measure both as to the cause and effect of rot. The duration of the disease usually varies from two to four months. When once it has shown itself, medicinal remedies are of little use ; the best course is to remove the flock to a dry, healthy pasture with the least possible delay, and to provide them liberally with Bait. It may be here remarked that change of feed and the use of salt not only contribute towards the cure of the greater number of diseases to which sheep are liable, but also act almost infallibly in the way of prevention. A few lumps of rocksalt placed about a field entails but a very trifling expense, and the avidity with which the sheep lick at the salt shows how much they appreciate it. Anything that adds to the comfort of stock swells the profit of the owner, and it is to be wondered at that most fiock-owners should neglect to provide a supply of salt, when by so doing they woula derive a considerable benefit at a very inconsiderable cost. Saline matter is essential to the maintenance of animal life ; scientific men tell us that food deficient in salt is of little value. An animal's instincts are generally true indications of its requirements, and this being the case, the liking that sheep and other animals have for salt would be proof enough, if more scientific evidence were wanting, that it is essential to their wellbeing. Travellers and naturalists relate that some animals in their wild state travel long distances to gain access to a salt lick. It may be thought quite unnecessary to discuss the question of rot in a country where it is not known ; but because it has not yet made its appearance among our flocks is no reason why we should always be exempt from its ravages. Bad management and inattention to the laws of nature work wonders in the developmeut of disease. Forewarned, forearmed, says the proverb. This disease of fluke has existed in the Australian colonies from the earliest days, but it is only lately that it has manifested itself in such a virulent form. What is more important to our sheepowners is that its effects have been chiefly felt in districts that were formerly comparatively free from it, and that it may be traced to the inadvised action of settlers in attempting to keep sheep on land unsuited for that purpose. We cannot too strongly impress upon the minds of all flock masters the necessity of an occasional change of food, and a liberal allowance of salt, as the sheep under such management do better, and are not so liable to take the scours or other disease.