POISONING OF STOCK

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20786, 22 April 1939, Page 26 (Supplement)

POISONING OF STOCK

PRICE OF CARELESSNESS When an animal dies suddenly without showing symptoms, or becomes mysteriously ill, one ran often trace the trouble to sonic form of poisoning. Many such cases arc never properly diagnosed. A post mortem will be helpful, but even this is not infallible. Most farmers arc fully aware of the precautions to be taken when dipping Sheep. Hut one occasionally cn counters a case of arsenical poisoning caused by the dip. A sheep with an open wound nr abrasion should nol lie dipped a., the poison may bo absorbed in large quantities through Hie skin. The animals must be allowed to gel' fairly dry before being turned out on to tile pastures, otherwise the grass may be contaminated. A large quantity of sheep dip cannot be disposed of very easily, and it is worth while giving a little thought to this aspect of the dipping problem. Care must be laken to dispose of it in some place where it will not drain into ponds or streams. Cattle are rather foolish, inquisitive beasts, and it is fatal to leave an open pot of paint lying about the farm buildings. Some hasty heifer will inevitably sample it and go down with an attack of acute lead-poisoning in consequence. Plant poisoning is a huge subject’which only an expert toxicologist can ever properly master. The average owner of livestock learns the commoner poisonous plants b\ practical experience and takes precaution against them.