BUSH-SICKNESS INVESTIGATIONS.

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume VI, Issue 6, 16 June 1913, Page 616

BUSH-SICKNESS INVESTIGATIONS.

C. J. Reakes, D.V.Sc., and B. C. Aston, F.I.C.

In the April issue of the Journal details were, given of three cattle experiments which had given distinctly successful results. In addition to these experiments a number of others were at the same time carried out, these also consisting' of the application of various top-dressings, sheep and a few cattle being afterwards grazed upon the treated pastures. While the sheep experiments did not, on the whole, yield such definitely good results as did those experiments limited to cattle alone, yet they proved of great value, and the interesting information obtained from them will, it is anticipated, greatly aid in overcoming the difficulty of . bringing bush-sick lands into profitable use for pastoral purposes. It has been a recognized fact that sheep develop bush sickness much more readily than do cattle, and that the younger ' they are the ’ more quickly the characteristic symptoms make .their appearance when the animals are living on badly affected land, while on other slightly affected areas adult sheep can live and remain healthy, though lambs cannot be fattened for the lamb market or reared to maturity. On such areas cattle are often unaffected, though probably they do not develop so quickly, fatten- so readily, or, . in the case of milch-cows,' milk so profitably as on normal land. Following are particulars of these additional experiments :

’ Sheep No. 3 had been on the untreated control paddock for over two months before being placed on this lime paddock. . • 1 . '/ ;

Sheep Nos. 2 and 3 died a day or two after having been shorn, the weather being very cold and wet. Both were, however, affected with bush sickness, but under normal weather-conditions they would probably have lived some weeks longer.

■Sheep Nos. 2 and 3 died after shearing, the weather being very wet and cold. ■ - Both were affected with bush sickness in a fairly advanced stage, but the inclement, weather immediately after they were shorn hastened their death. : ,

Series No. 3, at Mamaku.

Land partially cleared bush country with many stumps and fallen logs on surface. Surface-sown with cocksfoot and clover some years since. '

Series No. 4, at Lichfield. Open ’undulating country at lower level. Is considered “healthy” for cattle, but not for sheep, especially lambs. All four of the paddocks used were first ploughed and sown down with \ English grasses and

clover/ The control paddock had been in grass for several years, and was not ploughed. - ‘ ..

It should be noted that in the experiments carried out at Te Pu and at Mamaku the animals were kept supplied with rock salt practically throughout the whole time, while at Lichfield rock salt was not used. It was most unfortunate that so many sheep were killed by dogs, no fewer than six of the control sheep at Mamaku being lost on one night. These control animals were being watched with great interest, as they had kept in good health for a much longer period

than had' been anticipated, and their untimely death prevented the attainment of what, would very probably have proved most useful information. They were running over a large area (100 . acres), much of it in standing bush, and it would appear that they had been able to select feeding-areas where the herbage contained all the food constituents necessary for the maintenance of health and vigour. This is especially interesting in view of the fact that the district is one which is recognized as being affected, much more’than the Lichfield district. Yet in the Lichfield experiments every one of the control sheep developed bush sickness, and their lambs died several months before those on the dressed paddocks. Another interesting point is that in series No. 1 the sheep on the lime-treated paddock, even before exhibiting definite symptoms of sickness, did not thrive so well as did those on

The Lean Steebs on right are from Control Paddock (Series No. 3), Mamaku. the other paddocks, including the controls. In series Nos. 1 and 3 the moist climate and the conditions of the land (partially cleared bush land) was not such that a farmer would term good sheep-country,” and, quite apart from the question of bush sickness, the land is far better fitted for grazing cattle,' the existing natural conditions in themselves constituting a handicap to the maintenance of sound health in sheep. • •

A study of these experiments, including those detailed in the April issue of the Journal, indicates that the best results were obtained, in the case of cattle, with soil-dressings of (1) superphosphate, (2) sulphate of iron, (3) blood and bones (with luxuriant herbage, ploughed in), (4) guano (with luxuriant herbage ploughed in) ; in the case of sheep, with (1) sulphate of iron, (2) basic slag, (3) superphosphate. '

With cattle the most striking results were .obtained with - superphosphate, these being emphasized by, the comparison furnished by the

control steers (see April issue). The steer in the iron paddock in No. 3 series also furnished an example of the value of the topdressing applied, his growth, development, and ’good'-condition being well marked ; '

Those steers on the control paddock which kept healthy longest acquired the habit of disappearing into the bush for months at a time, then, probably feeding on the bush rather than on pasture. N.B. —- Wild cattle running in the bush are popularly supposed not to suffer from bush sickness.

It will be noted that with sheep the best results were obtained from those depastured upon paddocks top-dressed with iron sulphate (paddock No. 3, series No. 4). In this case the ewes kept in ! excellent condition throughout, and reared their lambs successfully,' : with one exception,

and that lamb had reached good marketable condition, and could have been profitably sold, before any indication of bush sickness was manifested by it. Further, on the other two experiments in series 4, where no iron dressing was used, all the lambs died ; and in the adjacent control paddock not only did all the lambs die, but also all the three hoggets and two of the five ewes on it. In the case of the other ironsulphate experiments with sheep it was unfortunate that one of the two animals used died through accident. The other, however, maintained excellent health and condition for a long : period, ultimately dying of bush sickness in January, 1913.

Regarding the basic-slag sheep experiments, the most noticeable feature was the manner in. which up to a certain point the sheep throve. The soil-dressing had the effect of producing a luxuriant growth of herbage (see photo, Journal, July, 1912, Vol. v, . p. 26), especially of clover, and the animals put on. flesh and really fattened.

Too much rich .feed, with its concomitant lack of necessity for exercise, is not good for.. 5 the prolonged maintenance of health and vigour in sheep, fatty infiltration of the liver usually resulting; and this may have been a contributing factor in the less successful result of the basic-slag experiment. As it was, it gave better results with sheep than did the other top-dressing experiments (except the iron sulphate) in series 1 and 4.

The good results obtained with sheep from. sulphate of iron used as top-dressing were rather seriously discounted by a later experiment conducted at Te Pu, where ewes, placed some time before lambing; in paddocks top-dressed with this, died a few months later, together with their lambs ; a further . similar experiment at Lichfield also proving far less successful than . did the first. There can, however, be no doubt, when the results on the control paddock are compared with those on the dressed plots, that the fertilizers exercised' a very favourable effect on the health of the' animals.

. One point must be noted in connection with these later sheep experiments—viz., that the ewes utilized for them were designedly obtained from just over the reputed border of the affected country, where sheep can certainly be successfully kept, but probably have, so to speak, no reserve to draw upon when taken on to bush-sick land.

To sum up, we have had excellent results with cattle, but still have to determine . whether, and by what means, sheep can be kept and lambs reared successfully. The Mamaku farm is now stocked with sixty two-year-old in-calf heifers, thirty yearling steers, and twenty-five in-lamb ewes. We look for good results with the cattle, and are hopeful regarding the sheep, though realizing that they present far greater difficulties.

In the swede manorial experiments at Ruakura Farm of Instruction the bones-and-superphosphate mixture has given the highest yield (40 tons to the acre), the no-manure plot yielding only 2J tons. The blood-and-bone mixture gave the.lowest yield.

The town does not need the retired farmer, while the farm does need his experience and his capital. A retired farmer is capital going to waste. — Scientific American.

A A HE successful farmer does not leave everything to chance. He provides in -*• ample time against weather-adversity and crop-failure, and he is coming to appreciate the fact that one of the best means to this end is silage.

Date Appearance of Sheep.’ Result. Date Sheep. when, placed in when placed in First Noticeable Paddock. Appearance of First Noticeable Symptoms. -. Result. • No. 1 . • . 8/1/11 Accidentally killed by a dog. No. 2 8/1/11 29/9/11 Died of bush sickness on 8/11/11. No. 3 28/3/11 '16/7/11 Died of bush sickness on 2/11/11. No. 4 30/4/11 • 2/10/11 Died of bush sickness on 13/2/12. No. 5 '. 30/4/11 2/10/11 Died of bush sickness on 13/2/12.

Series No. 1. Paddock No. 2, Te Pu; area, 2 acres. Top-dressed with quicklime, 1 ton per acre, November, 1910. Stocked with sheep sixteen months old.

Sheep. Date when placed in Paddock. Appearance of First Noticeable Symptoms. Result. No. 1 8/1/11 Died from accident, 30/8/11. ' ' No. 2 8/1/11■ 8/10/11 Died, 10/11/11. ) g b low No. 3 8/1/U 2/10/11 Died, 16/11/11. 1 ° e e - No. 4 .. 30/4/11 ..Removed in good health, 12/2/12. No. 5 30/4/11 Removed in good health, 12/2/12. No. 6 30/4/11 11/2/12 Died of bush sickness, 1/4/12.

Paddock No. 3, Te Pu; area, 2 acres. Top-dressed with superphosphate, 5 cwt. per acre, November, 1910. Stocked with wether sheen sixteen months old.

Sheep. Date when placed in Paddock. Appearance of First Noticeable Symptoms. Result. No. 1 8/1/11 Died through accident, 15/8/11. No. 2 ... 8/1/H Died through accident, 28/9/11. No. 3 ■ 8/1/11 . 8/11/11 Died of bush sickness, 25/11/11. No. 4 30/4/11 27/1/12 ' Died of bush sickness, 3/3/12. ' No. 5 ' ' 30/4/11 6/2/12 . Died of bush sickness, 29/4/12. No. 6 (ewe) .. 30/4/11 6/2/12 Removed in good health, 12/2/12.

Paddock No. 4, Te Pu; area, 2 acres. Top-dressed with basic slag, 10 cwt. per acre, November, 1910. Stocked with five wether sheep sixteen months old, and one ewe twenty-eight months old.

Date Appearance of Sheep. Date when placed in First Noticeable Result. Paddock. ■Appearance of First Noticeable Symptoms. Result. No. 1 ‘ .. . 8/1/11 29/9/11 Died of bush sickness, 3/10/11. No. 2 8/1/U 24/10/11 Died, 10/11/11.' No. 3 - •——8/1/115/11/11 Died, .10/11/11.. . . No. 4 30/4/11 Removed in good health, 12/2/12. No. 5 .. 30/4/11 Removed in good health, 12/2/12.

Paddock No. 5, Te Pu; area, 2 acres. Top-dressed with calcium nitrate, 2 cwt. per acre, November, 1910. Stocked wether sheep sixteen months old.

. Date ■ Appearance of Sheep. “Date when placed in First Noticeable Result. Paddock. -Appearance of First Noticeable Symptoms. Result. No. 1 :. 8/1/11 ... :■ ' : • [• . J ■:V7' Transferred to paddock No. 2, 28/3/11. No. 2 8/1/11 24/10/11 Died of bush sickness, 13/11/11. No. 3 8/1/11 5/11/11 .Died of bush sickness, 3/1/12. No. 4 ... 30/4/11 6/2/12 Died of bush sickness, 27/4/12. . 1 . . /■ No. 5 .. . 30/4/11 ■ 6/2/12 Died of bush sickness, 16/5/12. No. 6 30/4/12 Removed in good health, 12/2/12.

Paddock No. 6, Te Pu (control); area, 2 acres. No top-dressing. Stocked with wether sheep sixteen months old.

Animal. Date when placed in Paddock. Appearance of First Noticeable Symptoms.. Result. Steer .. 19/4/11 Developed bush, sickness end of December, 1912. Then removed to experimental farm and placed under medicinal *-■ - . • mental farm and placed under medicinal treatment. Still at farm, and is improving. Sheep No. 1 .. 8/1/11 2/12/11 proving. Died from accident, 15/12/11. Sheep No. 2 .. . 8/1/11 31/10/11 Died from bush sickness, 15/12/11.

Paddock No. 1; area, 2 acres. Top-dressed with ground limestone, 2 tons, and superphosphate, 5 cwt., per acre, November, 1910. Stocked with one steer about eighteen months old, and two wether sheep of about the same age.

- Animal. Date when placed in Paddock. Appearance of First Noticeable Symptoms. Result. Steer 19/4/11 10/5/12 Removed to “ healthy ” country. Sold, fully recovered, in March, 1913. Sheep No. 1 .. 8/1/11 25/9/11 Died of bush sickness, 18/10/11. Sheep No. 2 .. 19/4/11 8/1/H 8/1/H 10/5/12 25/9/11 25/9/11 Removed to “ healthy ” country. Sold, fully recovered, in March, 1913. Died of bush sickness, 18/10/11. Died of bush sickness, 1/11/11.

Paddock No. 2; area, 2 acres. Top-dressed with lime, 1 ton per acre, November, 1910. Stocked with one steer and two wether sheep, all about eighteen months old.

Animal. ■ Date when placed in Paddock. Appearance of First Noticeable Symptoms. Result. Steer 19/4/11 Still healthy and growing well at March, 1913, when sold to butcher. Wether No. 1 25/2/11 Found dead 19/12/11, four days after shearing. Carcase was in good condition, and death was not due to bush sickness. • Wether No. 2 25/2/11 1/12/12 Lived until January, 1913, and then died • ■ V'K of bush sickness. . 25/2/11 1/12/12 Lived until January, 1913, and then died of bush sickness.

Paddock No. 3; area, 2 acres. Top-dressed with sulphate of iron, 5 cwt. per acre, November, 1910. Stocked with one steer and two wether sheep, all about eighteen months old.

Sheep. Date < when placed in | Paddock. Appearance of First Noticeable Result. Symptoms. Result. Steer No. 1 .. i ' 8/1/11 Found dead. Possibly accident. Steer No. 2 ... ' 8/1/11 Developed bush sickness, end of December, 1912. Removed to experimental 1 ■ farm, and there improved, and was sold. Developed bush sickness, end of December, 1912. Removed to experimental farm, and there improved, and was sold. Steer No. 3 .. ; - 8/1/11 Still healthy in March, 1913, when sold to butcher. . ' Steer No. 4 .. 8/1/11 15/9/12 Removed when very noticeably affected, 16/11/12. Died, 31/3/13. Ewe No. 1 16/10/10 18/7/11 As had developed into a good case of bush sickness, was killed (5/9/11) in order to secure post-mortem specimens. Ewe No. 2 ... 16/10/10 Remained healthy until killed by dogs about 10/11/12. Ewe No. 3 16/10/10 Remained' healthy until killed by dogs about 10/11/12. Ewe No. 4 ... 16/10/10 Remained healthy until killed by dogs about 10/11/12. ■Wether No. 1 16/10/10 Found dead, 15/6/11. Doubtful whether bush sickness cause of death. Wether No. 2.. ' 16/10/10 Found dead, 2/5/12. Cause of death not • bush sickness. Wether No. 3.. 16/10/10 Remained healthy until killed by dogs about 10/11/12. Wether No. 4.. 16/10/10 Remained healthy until killed' by dogs about 10/11/12. Lamb No. 1 .. 16/10/10 25/2/11. Killed, 6/3/11, when well affected with bush sickness. . Lamb No. 2 .. 16/10/10 23/4/11, Despatched to Wellington for experimental purposes, 30/4/11; affected ■ then with bush sickness. 23/4/11 Despatched to Wellington for experimental purposes, 30/4/11 ; affected then with bush sickness. Lamb No. 3 .. 16/10/10 Remained healthy until killed by dogs about 10/11/12.

Paddock No. 5; area, approximately 100 acres, much of it in standing bush. Utilized to accommodate control animals. No top-dressing. Stocked with four steers about fifteen months old, four ewes and four wethers about fifteen months old, and three lambs.

Animal. Date when placed in . Paddock. , Appearance of First Noticeable Symptoms. ' ; Result. Ewe No. 1 .. ' 19/6/11 11/4/12 Removed, 10/6/12 ; then noticeably suffering from bush sickness. Ewe No. 2 19/6/11 1/6/12Removed, 10/6/12; then slightly affected, with bush sickness. Ewe No. 3 .. 19/6/11 Removed, 10/6/12 ; then healthy. Lamb No. 1 .. Date birth, 11/12/11 Died of bush sickness, 25/1/12. about 5/8/11 ’ 11/12/11 Died of bush sickness, 25/1/12. i Lamb No. 2 .. Date birth, about 3/2/12; Killed, 17/3/12 ; then badly affected with, bush sickness. 5/8/11 3/2/12 Killed, 17/3/12 ; then badly affected with bush sickness. Lamb No. 3 .. 5/8/11 Date birth,Died of bush sickness, 30/3/12. . Date birth, ■ about ' -22/2/12 • 5/8/11. 22/2/12 Died of bush sickness, 30/3/12.

Paddock No. 1; area, 2 acres. Top-dressed with 3 tons of carbonate of lime and 2½ cwt. superphosphates: per acre, January, 1912. Stocked with three pregnant ewes about one year and nine months old.

Animal. Date when placed in Paddock. Appearance of First Noticeable Symptoms. Result. Ewe No. 1 • .. 19/6/11 .. Removed, 10/6/12, healthy. Removed, 10/6/12, healthy. Ewe No. 2 .. 19/6/11 Removed, 10/6/12, healthy. Ewe No. 3 '..' 19/6/11 Removed, 10/6/12, healthy. • Lamb No. 1 . . Date birth, ■.22/2/12 Died of bush sickness, 17/4/12. about 5/8/11 Date birth, Killed when badly affected with bush about sickness, 17/3/12. ■ Lamb No. 2 .. Date birth, about • 5/8/11 22/2/12 Died of bush sickness, 17/4/12. Lamb No. 2 .. 5/3/12 5/3/12 Killed when badly affected with bush sickness, 17/3/12.

Paddock No. 2 ; area, 2 acres. Top-dressed with 5 cwt. salt and 2½ cwt. super - phosphate per acre, January, 1911. Stocked with one barren and two pregnant ewes about one year and nine months old.

Animal. Date ' when placed in Paddock. Appearance of First Noticeable Symptoms. • Result. Ewe No. 1 ' • 19/6/11 Removed, 10/6/12, healthy. Ewe No. 2 .. 19/6/11 ■ Removed, 10/6/12, healthy. Ewe No. 3 .. 19/6/11 Removed, 10/6/12, healthy. Lamb No. 1 .. Date birth, ■ about 15/8/11 , 5/3/12 - Round dead, 15/4/12 ; probably died from bush sickness. , Lamb No. 2 .. Date birth, Died, 20/11/12, after shearing. Cause of c c ■ ; ; about .a b o u t : death, bush sickness, .accelerated, by 15/8/11" Died, 20/11/12, after shearing. Cause of death, bush sickness, accelerated by exposure after wool removed. . Lamb No. 3 .. Date birth, ■ Died, 28/11/12. Carcase in very fair . about • condition. : Doubtful whether affected ■■■ 15/8/11 ' Died, 28/11/12. Carcase in very faircondition. Doubtful whether affected . ' • - J ■ bush sickness. ; bush sickness.

Paddock No. 3 ; area, 2 acres. Top-dressed with sulphate of iron, 5 cwt. per acre, January, 1911. Stocked with three pregnant ewes about one year and nine months old.

Animal. Date when placed in Paddock. Appearance of First Noticeable Symptoms. Result. Ewe No. 1 19/6/11 Removed, 10/6/12, healthy. Ewe No. 2 19/6/11 Removed, 10/6/12, healthy. . Ewe No. 3 19/6/11 Removed, 10/6/12, healthy. Ewe No. 4 - 19/6/11 Removed, 10/6/12, healthy. Lamb No. 1 .. 19/6/11 19/6/11 19/6/11 19/6/11 Date birth, about ' 15/8/11 ii/i/12 Died of bush sickness, 28/1/12. Lamb No. 2 .. Date birth, Date birth, about 15/8/11 13/2/12 Killed when in extremis, badly affected with bush sickness, 25/3/12. Lamb No. 3 .. Date birth, Date birth, about ' 15/8/11 n/i/12 Removed, 10/6/12, healthy. Removed, 10/6/12, healthy. Removed, 10/6/12, healthy. Removed, 10/6/12, healthy. Died of bush sickness, 28/1/12. Lamb No. 2 .. 13/2/12 Killed when in extremis, badly affected with bush sickness, 25/3/12. Lamb No. 3 .. Still alive and well, 20/12/12. Later Still alive and well, 20/12/12. Later developed bush sickness, was removed to healthy country, and recovered.

Paddock No. 4; area, 3 acres. Top-dressed with basic slag, 10 cwt. per acre, January, 1911. Stocked with one barren and three pregnant ewes about one year and nine months old.

Animal. Date when placed in Paddock. Appearance of First Noticeable Symptoms. Result. Ewe No. 1 19/6/11 11/12/11 Died of bush sickness, 14/1/12. Ewe No. 2 19/6/11 30/4/12 Died. of bush sickness, 15/6/12. Ewe No. 3 19/6/11 . 10/6/12 Removed, 10/6/12; then showing symptoms of bush sickness. Ewe No. 4 19/6/11 10/6/12 Removed, 10/6/12; then showing symptoms of bush sickness. Ewe No. 5 19/6/11 10/6/12 Removed, 10/6/12; then showing symptoms of bush sickness. Hogget No. 1.. 8/10/10 28/8/11 Exhibited well-marked symptoms of bush sickness, 5/9/11, and then sent to Wellington for experimental purposes. Hogget No. 2. . 8/10/10 28/10/11 Exhibited well-marked symptoms of bush sickness, 5/9/11, and . then sent to Wellington for experimental purposes. Hogget No. 3.. 8/10/10 28/11/11 Died of bush sickness, 18/12/11. Lamb No. 1 .. Date birth 28/11/11 Died of bush sickness, 17/12/11. Lamb No. 2 .. Date birth 11/12/11 Died of bush sickness, 7/1/11. Lamb No. 3 .. Date birth 11/12/11 Died of bush sickness, 24/1/12. Lamb No. 4 .. Date birth 19/1/12 Died of bush sickness, 22/2/12. Lamb No. 5 .. Date birth 22/2/12 Died of bush sickness, 25/3/12.

Paddock No. 5 ; area, about 30 acres. Used as control. No top-dressing. Stocked with one barren and four pregnant ewes about one year and nine months old (one of which gave birth to twin lambs), and three hoggets.