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Access to clippings from a yew tree (Toxus japonica) accounted for another mortality in cattle. Cases of poisoning from fern and tutu were reported during the year. Investigations and findings of poisoning of stock from these causes demonstrate a certain amount of carelessness on farms in the handling and disposal of these poisonous substances. The causes of poisoning in all these inquiries are well known to all stockmen, and owners should exercise more care to prevent stock losses from this cause. Parasitic Disease in Young Cattle.—The use of phenothiazine in the treatment of young stock infested with worms is increasing. Stock-owners require to exercise due care in administering the appropriate dose to calves, according to their age. In a few instances where owners have been too generous in their dosage rates the treated calves, have shown the effects of this worm medicine. Eye symptoms have been recorded, with rapid loss of condition in some cases.. The eyes are affected with discharge, and later sometimes covered with a white film. If an excessive dose is given, death may result. Owners are advised to use the correct dosage rates, so that this valuable worm medicine is not brought into disrepute. Risks should not be taken of increasing the dosage with this preparation. Many such risks were taken in the past with bluestone solution, but it is generally accepted that phenothiazine is superior to other worm medicines, so that if it is used judiciously and a good standard of feeding and calf husbandry is practised, farmers should have no difficulty in rearing young stock for replacement purposes. SHEEP A mild winter was experienced in 1946, and generally all ewe flocks wintered well. As was anticipated, owing to the drought conditions affecting many parts of the North Island, the lambing percentage was not up to the high record of the previous year. Although the spring was cold and wet and lambs did not fatten early, the summer has been good and large numbers of good-quality lambs of good weights have been killed. The killing season in the South Island was practically a month later than usual, owing to the cold, wet spring. Arrears are now being overcome. Owing to the mild winter, the incidence of ewe losses due to disease was low. Very little bearing trouble in ewes was experienced, and with the exception of some losses in country affected by snow there were few outbreaks of pregnancy toxsemia. There was some increase in the shearing of ewes before lambing in the Otago district. This practice is not without risk of loss if unseasonable weather is experienced,, and some losses of ewes were recorded. The wool clip for 1946-47 has been more attractive than that for last year, due to the better seasonal conditions over the Dominion as a whole. Shearing and dipping operations were carried out satisfactorily, and generally all dipping preparations have proved effective in the control of parasites. Dipping losses were not numerous, but a new experience with some dipping fluids was the occurrence of lameness, frequently affecting a good percentage of the dipped sheep. The nature of the lameness is obscure, as it frequently affects one limb only, and affected sheep recover in about twelve to fourteen days. Infectious Entero-toxcemia (Pulpy Kidney).—The Live stock Superintendent,. Dunedin, reports :—- Losses among lambs were widespread over the district, but the individual incidence was low.. Some further losses occurred in lambs about four months old, and were the subject of several inquiriesThe vaccination of ewes is extensively carried out, with reasonably satisfactory results. Lymphadenitis. —The inspection of carcasses for this disease is a routine procedure at all freezing-works. Owing to labour difficulties, inspection methods have been

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