SHEEP LOSSES

Waikato Times, Volume 122, Issue 20463, 1 April 1938, Page 9

SHEEP LOSSES

MORTALITY IN WAIKATO FACIAL ECZEMA OUTBREAK GRAVE POSITION FACED Waikato farmers fact a grave position as a result of the Ineldenoe of faolal eczema In their flocke. In some district# the disease has reached alarming proportions and high individual losses have been reported. Breeding ewes that were purchased at high figures during the peak of the store sheep market this season have been affected and every day tees truokloads of diseased sheep being sent to the killing works. The present outbreak is the severest for many years. A month ago mild outbreaks were rpnorted throughout the district, but during the last week the disease has increased in intensity and many sheep men and dairy farmers with small flocks will have their profits materially reduced. The money paid by some I purchasers of breeding ewes this sea- ' son was such as to leave very little margin of profit and consequently the outbreak of facial eczema will mean a substantial loss on some lines of sheep. The long, dry spell has been responsible for the severity of the outbreak. Eczema usually occurs where a sudden flush of feed follows drought conditions and the occurrence of the disease "is said to be related to the excess of chlorophyll or green colouring matter in the leaves of plants. The treating of affected sheep in the past lias met with little success and an unfortunate aspect of the disease is that once the sheep are badly affected they are practically worthless. Treatment of Trouble Laxatives, oily antiseptic dressings and shade , are advised in treating the sheep. The best results, observes Mr D. Marshall, of the Department of Agriculture, Hamilton, are obtained I from putting the affected sheep immediately into the woolshed. Hay may be fed, and the animals allowed . out on bare fields during the night. A dose of 2oz of salts should be given in a drench to clear out the system i and the face and ears may be dressed with Stockholm tar, or oil, to which lampblack and a few drops of antiseptic have been added. If a shed is not available, the sheep should be put in the shadiest spot available. If a dry, hard untopdressed area is available, it is best to put the sheep on to such an area, considers Mr Marshall. Susceptible lines of sheep i may be run behind cattle. Should these measures not be pracI ticable it may be necessary to take more extreme steps such as crowding sheep together to eat out the gi«een feed quickly and then to feed a certain amount of hay. Three years ago considerable benefit followed the drenching of all the sheep with salts.