THE ERGOTED CATTLE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1612, 18 July 1887, Page 2

THE ERGOTED CATTLE

Wellington, Jnly 16. The following is Inspector OrbeU'e report on the cattle disease m the Wairarapa: - "I have the honor to report for your information as follows : — Having been informed that a foot disease had broken out amongst the cattle upon the Wangalmoana r state, I left Masterton on the 12th inatant and arrived at the homestead of Mr J. P. Bußsell on the 13th instant. On the following day I made an inspection of several mobß of cattle upon the estate. The simplest explanation that I can give of the disease which attacked the fonr limbs of the oattle Is to say that twentyone head of purebred oattle had been pat into a paddock of tail fescue grass badly { ergoted. This grass had been allowed to go to seed, and the seed waa allowed to shake itself out upon the ground before the cattle were put into the paddock. After the oattle had been m the paddock about a week their legs beoama Tery much, swollen ; lameness ensued, and some of their feet dropped off later on. Only six of the cattle out of the number that were put into the paddock escaped from the poisonous complaint. Six head were shot after their feet had rotted off by dry gangrene. Ergot i 8 known to possess poiocnous qualities when taken m conßidorable quantities which will produce dry gangrene of the lower limbs, and In regard to this case I think thefie can be little or no doubt that the cause of the cattle losing their feet was by their eatiug considerable quantities of ergot with the grass Theso twenty-one head were mixed with a mob of other cattle previously to being put into the ergoted paddock of about ten acres. I examined this mob, and to all appearances they were perfectly healthy. The rest of the general herd remaining at large on the estate were looking sound and In good condition. I mußt thank Mr Russell for his courtaey m rendering me all necessary Information and aid during my viait. — Ddwabd Obbbll, Inspeotor."