THE Director-General's PAGE

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume 63, Issue 3, 15 September 1941, Page 186

THE DirectorGeneral's PAGE

Vaccination Against Pulpy Kidney In Lambs

SINCE its introduction in 1937, vaccination has proved to be the best practical ’ means of control of entero-toxaemia or “pulpy kidney” disease in lambs. In some districts the main loss occurs in lambs between the ages of three and six weeks. ‘ Invariably, the best conditioned and , most forward lambs are attacked by the disease. Losses vary from district to district from under J per cent, to 5 or 6 per cent. To control

this loss of very young lambs the vaccination of the pregnant ewe has been recommended. The vaccination is carried out by giving two injections of specially-prepared vaccine, with an interval of several weeks between the injections. The second injection is given in the last two or three weeks before lambing is due to start. Details of the vaccine and method of carrying out the injections may be obtained from Veterinarians and Inspectors of Stock.

In other districts the main loss occurs in older lambs or even in hoggets, depending mainly on the type of sheep husbandry practised in the district. In order to control losses in this age of lamb, it is not recommended to vaccinate the ewes. The best results are obtained through vaccination of the lambs themselves. Here, again, a special type of vaccine has been prepared with a view to minimising the possibility of abscess formation after the injection. It will be readily recognised that the control of abscess formation after injections is most important in lambs being fattened for slaughter for export, as it is necessary to reduce the risk of blemishes on the carcass. With this object in view, it is imperative that the strictest cleanliness should be observed at the time of vaccination, whether ewes or lambs are being dealt with. Any instructions given with the vaccine ( should be carefully carried out, and, as far as possible, asepsis in the vaccination operations should be observed.

Digesters in Freezing Works

FREEZING works in New Zealand are equipped with digesters with sufficient capacity to enable them to process the bones and waste materials. from normal killing operations, but,' in view ’of the increased canning programme for next season and the request by the United Kingdom Government for all beef to be boned before shipment, a greatly increased strain will be thrown on the capacity of digesters.

To : meet these abnormal conditions the Government is arranging finance for the erection of emergency digester plants, and action has already been taken to procure the steel required for the manufacture of these plants from the United States of America. - ’ ' *' K .. ■ ■ , •

Serpentine-Superphosphate

A N article in this issue summarises AN article in this issue summarises the first year’s result of , experiments with the new mixture, serpen-tine-superphosphate, and gives preliminary recommendations regarding its use. Farmers will no doubt be greatly interested in the degree of success that has been obtained with this fertiliser. While no magical properties are claimed for the manure, the trials suggest that it has a definite place as a fertiliser, and that in certain districts its use should rapidly become widespread. The investigation leading up to the production of this material on a commercial scale has been a good example of team work between officers of several Departments, who have been generously assisted by the fertiliser manufacturers and by numerous

farmers who have participated in cooperative trials. The total of 237 field trials laid down by the Fields Division is a creditable achievement, which has produced fruitful results. In the

coming season the help of Young Farmers’ Clubs and pupils of District High Schools will , further extend, the scope of field experimental work with the material. ,

Proposed Increase in Canning Capacity SUBSTANTIAL increases are being made in the output of canned meat. The present capacity of the plants in the Dominion, based on an eight-hour day, is 9,600 tons of canned meat, which is equivalent to 16,000 tons of boned meat. Finance has been arranged on plant ordered for the handling of a further 12,400 tons of canned meat, which is equivalent to 21,000 tons of boned meat. Thus, the total capacity of New Zealand plants will be 22,000 tons of canned meat, which is the equivalent of 37,000 tons of boned meat. - \ Canning plants can be operated for 10 hours daily without undue strain on the female staff. Thus, if required, the total output can be increased by 20 per cent., bringing the total to 26,400 tons of canned meat, which is equivalent to 44,000 tons of boned meat. This potential capacity would be sufficient to deal with all boned cow beef, all second grade quarter beef, and 2,000,000 ewe carcasses. This is above the number of ewes ever killed for export in one season. If this quantity of canned meat were shipped in the usual way as refrigerated cargo, it would represent 75,000 tons, and the envisaged canning programme saves refrigerated shipping and local cool storage space to that extent. Plant for the increased capacity should be in operation early in 1942.

Linen Flax Exhibit