MORTALITY AMONGST LAMBS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1273, 31 October 1911, Page 8

MORTALITY AMONGST LAMBS.

ASCRIBED TO INDIGESTION. While stock on the wholo has been doing fairly well in the Alanawntu district this season, there appears to have been somo mortality among the bigger lambs, says the "Standard." The cause is perhaps a little doubtful, but several experienced fanners ascribe it to indigestion. Til? facts revealed upon an examination of ihe dead lambs appear to support the theory. In the digestive organs there has usually been found a quantity of curdled milk, which, it is staled, is an indication that tho animal has received too much rich food, indigestion having been caused in consequence. It has been noticed, too, that since the rain has set in, and the grass has become moro watery, much of (he mortality has ceased. Tho inference appears to bo that in cases where owes have two lambs they are less likely to die from tho above-mentioned cause at least, as tho nourishment afforded each of the lambs is less than in tho caso of a ewe with one lamb. A Southern Suggestion. At the last meeting of the Ashburton A. and P. Association, the following interesting letter was read from Mr. '1. A. Harrison, an ex-president of the associa-tion-.—"As the season is approaching when there is often- a mortality among tho best of the lambs, I, with much diffidence, beg to suggest a. remedy, which may be worth while trying. Tho deaths of lambs are invariably attributed to balls of wool, ivhich bccome clotted internally, and to 100 much mill: with the young grass. I im inclined to think it may be the lat:er combination which forms a gas. This 511s the lamb with wind so as to eventually stop circulation of the bljod and free breathing, thus causing death. I nay have made a wrong diagnosis, but n the caso of animals affected by tutu I iave tried the following remedy, which is iinipiy to get hold of tho tongue and pull t out at full length until the animal vants to get up, and then let go. Tutu, [ believe, is not really poisonous, but produces a strong gas thai fills the air-i-essels and stomach with wind, which tills the animal, not the poison. Jly Jifßdence arises because I have not had in opportunity of trying it on lambs at ;ho period I have mentioned, but I have rricil it here with sheep and cattle suc:es?fully every time for tutu. The tongue •eqnires to bo drawn for generally not nore than three minutes, when the aninal gets up and walks away. I read if tho remedy being tried by a North y.and cattle drover for tutu, and this ed me to discuss the matter with tho inspector of the Agricultural Department lere. He told m# that the Veterinary department had made an examination of :utu to find poison, and unsuccessfully, nit found that it produced a strong gas. Vs the symptoms of tutu in sheep and ambs are outwardly identical, I have ventured to write you of my experience. trial, at anyrate, will not cost anyhinjj, but I would recommend tying a liece of string round the tongue" so as o keep, it extended, as lambs' teeth are •cry sharp, and the tv,-itching of tho jaw night causo tho fingers to be bitten."