H.—29.

" Circling Disease " of Sheep. —This trouble was reported from sheep districts of the North Island. It is more in evidence during the autumn period. Contagious Ophthalmia of Sheep (Pink Eye) . —Outbreaks of this trouble were rather numerous. The contagious nature of the disease has been demonstrated, although the actual causative organism has not as yet been isolated. Information regarding treatment of the condition has been made general. " Stiffness " in Lambs. —This condition was rather prevalent in all districts. Although sometimes it is seen before marking, its chief occurrence is subsequent to this operation. Eecovery usually takes place in a short time, but a temporary setback to the lambs is produced. Very close inquiry into the trouble has been instituted, affected lambs being followed up to the time of slaughter in order to determine its relation to enlarged joints or arthritis. Lice and Ticks. —Close inspection at saleyards resulted in the finding of considerable numbers of lice-infested sheep being exposed for sale. In such instances prosecutions under the Stock Act were enforced against owners. The position regarding lousy sheep generally has, however, improved. Congenital Goitre in Lambs. —Investigation has taken place into outbreaks of this condition in the Otago District occurring on iodine-deficient areas. Facial Dermatitis in Sheep. —The District Superintendent, Dunedin, reporting on this condition, states : " Further evidence was acquired this season regarding the value of burning affected blocks of tussock country in the spring as a means of reducing the incidence of facial dermatitis in sheep." Mycotic Dermatitis. —This inflammatory condition of the sheep's skin has been found affecting flocks in different districts. Several cases of its occurrence have been noted in Canterbury. It is an inflammatory condition of the skin, with resulting scabs, which grow up in the wool, forming dense, hard masses, which render shearing difficult or impossible. The disease is caused by a mould or fungus and is contagious. The disease is common in Australia, where it is said to occasion considerable economic loss. Moist conditions favour its development, and it is more common in districts with heavy rainfall. There is no known treatment for the trouble, and separation of affected from healthy sheep is essential to prevent spread. Sheep-farmers would be well advised to report any suspicious cases to the Department for investigation. Deficiency Disease in Sheep. —Instances of malnutrition in sheep attributable to soil deficiencies have been inquired into. One instance, in which considerable improvement has been reported following the use of a lick prescribed by the Department, is that occurring amongst lambs in the Morton Mains district of Southland. Further investigation is proceeding. PIGS. The number of pigs slaughtered for the season 1933-34 was 744,569, an increase of 235,946. The quantity of pork exported was 377,863 cwt., compared with. 186,652 cwt. for the previous year. The low price of butterfat has resulted in a distinct trend on the part of dairy-farmers to a greater realization of the value of pig-keeping as an adjunct to dairying. There is every indication that the pig-breeding industry will in the immediate future develop to an extent when it will be regarded as an important section of the dairying industry. With improved methods of feeding and management of pigs, the returns from this source should convince every dairy-farmer of the advantages of pig-keeping in association with dairying. The old slip-shod methods, wherein the pig was merely regarded as a means of using up surplus dairy products and not as a side-line capable of returning good profit, must be eliminated if we are to maintain a successful export trade. The subject of the grading of pig carcasses is one which has of recent years received considerable notice. Much improvement has been established in this respect, but it is evident that further attention must be concentrated on this important feature, which has a distinct bearing on the pig-breeding industry. Swine Fever. —An outbreak of this disease during the year on some farms in the Johnsonville and Lower Hutt districts, near Wellington, has to be recorded. A brief history of the outbreak is as follows : During May, investigation of some reported mortalities in pigs in the Johnsonville district led up to the discovery of the existence of swine fever, confirmation of the disease being established by blood-transmission tests carried out at the Wallaceville Laboratory. As a result of intensive inspection of all farms in the district, further unreported centres of the disease were located. Quarantine restrictions were immediately imposed controlling the movement of pigs, and the risk of spread was thus minimized. The pig-farms on which the disease occurred were all of the same type —viz., pig-farms on which pork was produced for sale to Wellington butchers. In every instance the pigs were garbage-fed, the garbage being collected from hotels, &c, in Wellington. It thus became evident from the start that garbage-feeding was the means by which the infection was spread, as interchange of garbage tins from farm to farm was common. Regarding the manner in which the infection reached Wellington, the closest inquiry failed to definitely decide this point. The inference is, however, very strong that the virus was introduced in garbage from an overseas ship. Although it was not possible to prove the point, a strong suspicion exists that garbage from an overseas ship had in some way reached a piggery, thus conveying the virus infection in meat scraps. This remains the only feasible explanation, in spite of the fact that the removal of garbage from overseas vessels has been prohibited by regulation for some years.

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