SHEARING SHED HYGIENE

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume 81, Issue 4, 16 October 1950, Page 345

SHEARING SHED HYGIENE

LARGE numbers of sheep have to be shorn as rapidly as possible annually in New Zealand. The fleeces are a year’s growth of wool and consequently carry a year’s accumulation of dirty and potentially infective material. Some essentials in shearing shed hygiene are discussed in this article by A. D. M. G. Laing, Assistant Director, Livestock

Division, Department of Agriculture, Wellington.

SOME skin cuts of varying sizes are unavoidable during shearing, and, particularly with modern shearing machinery, some superficial bruising cannot be avoided, with the result that resistance to infection is lowered. In addition, as the years go by, infection inevitably accumulates in sheepyards and shearing shed surroundings. Proper hygiene at shearing time will become more necessary as time goes by. It is unlikely that any drug will ever be developed which would eliminate shearing by causing a break in the wool such as is caused occasionally under natural conditions by a serious constitutional disturbance to the sheep. Important infective conditions which have to be guarded against are: — Blackleg and similar acute septic poisonings are caused by organisms found in the soil, particularly where sheep have been frequently held in large mobs, in sheepyards, etc. Death is rapid after the onset, and the area round the cut or bruise which has been the avenue of entrance of the infection is usually swollen, puffy, and deep dark purple. Any veterinary surgeon or Stock Inspector will arrange for material from suspected cases to be diagnosed at Wallaceville Animal Research Station. Inoculation at least 3 weeks before shearing is reasonably effective. Veterinary surgeons and Stock Inspectors will explain the procedure. Inoculation must not be regarded as a substitute for care at shearing. Caseous lymphadenitis is referred to as “C.L.A.” or “lympho” in the works killing sheets. The causative germ is in the soil, particularly in sheepyards, etc. Infection results in swollen glands, mainly in the groin, the buttock, in front of the stifle, and in front of the shoulder. These ultimately discharge pus and so spread the disease, which is only rarely fatal. There is substantial economic - loss, however, as carcasses with “lympho” infection cannot be exported.

There is no treatment for the condition; it can be prevented by sound hygiene in all sheep operations in which wounding is likely and by thorough culling of animals with swollen glands.

Hygienic Methods

Hygienic methods at shearing may be discussed under several headings:—

Mustering

Dirty, dusty routes to the shed should be avoided as far as possible. Shearing should be arranged for a time when the weather promises to be suitable.

Yarding

Ideally, sheepyards should have concrete floors which could be thoroughly cleansed and even disinfected as and when desired. If floors are not of concrete, as much superficial dirt as possible should be removed before the yards are used and water should be sprinkled at frequent intervals to lay dust. Yards should be inspected for splinters, rusty nails, or other materials which would cause wounds before sheep are penned.

Shearing Shed

All floors and approaches should be scrubbed thoroughly with water (hot if possible) in which 10 per cent, of washing soda (about lib. per gallon) has been dissolved. Floors should be swept and cleaned in this way when practicable during shearing. Spraying at intervals with one of the quaternary ammonium antiseptics at a suitable strength is sound practice.

All windows in the shearing shed should be cleaned thoroughly, as good lighting will assist the shearers materially in avoiding cuts on sheep.

Particular attention should be paid to the counting-out pens and the chutes leading to them where the shorn (and wounded) sheep first go after shearing. Even if it is not possible to have concrete flooring elsewhere, it is most desirable that these pens at least should be concreted. Counting-out . pens should not be allowed to become overcrowded.

Shearing

It is desirable to shear the younger sheep first, and ewes and lambs should be separated for as short a period as possible. All shearing implements should be thoroughly disinfected before use. Dipping them in boiling water with 5 per cent, of washing soda (about Jib. per gallon) added is excellent. During work a solution of 3->oz. of caustic soda to 1 gallon of water (2 per cent.) will remove gross dirt and

grease from implements, which should then be dipped in pure water, dried, and oiled.

Where shearing instruments have become soiled with pus from an abscess they must be cleansed as described before further use.

It is impossible to treat all cuts, but any large cuts, particularly in the lower parts of the sheep which may come in contact with the ground, should be treated. An antiseptic solution at approved strength should be squirted on to the wound with a pressure oil can (sterilised by boiling before shearing starts) or similar instrument, such as the old-type kettle drencher. Swabs or brushes must not be used, as they rapidly soil and carry infection.

Above all, avoid tar. It has no antiseptic effect and it ruins the wool with which it comes in contact.

When the value of the sheep being shorn justifies its use, sulphonamide in powder form (obtainable from or through veterinary surgeons) can be blown or puffed with a suitable blower on to wounds. Finally, when the sheep is shorn, care should be taken to see that it goes out through the hatch in such a way that it lands comfortably on all four feet in the counting-out pen and so avoids getting, dirt into any wound. After Shearing When driving the sheep back to their normal pastures dusty, dirty routes should be avoided. Common sense dictates any special action which adverse weather conditions may make necessary. Of all the farm animals the sheep is the least resistant to any septic infection, and it is suggested that precautions on the lines advised should be taken as far as they are economically justified. Every farmer must, of course, judge for himself to what extent any expense gone to is justified. A fact which should be borne in mind, however, is that if infections are present on a farm and are giving trouble, the longer reasonable hygienic precautions are delayed the more extensive these will ultimately have to be.

GLENARAY STATION, SOUTHLAND