SHEEP MANAGEMENT.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1801, 14 July 1913, Page 10

SHEEP MANAGEMENT.

FROM THE HEALTH STANDPOINT. A further 'article on sheep management (from the health standpoint) appears in the Journal of Agriculture for June, under the name of Mr. C. J. Reakes. head of the Live Stock Division of the Department of Agriculture. Parasitic Diseases, Dealing with parasitic diseases, tho writer says:—"internal parasites still cause considerable loss to sheepowners, though far less than was the case some fifteen years ago, when heavy mortality occurred every year, among hoggets especially, throughout the west coast of the North Island, principally as a result of the attacks of lung and stomach parasites. At that time, and to some extent since, so-called lung-worm was looked upon as being the more serious affection, but the probability is that , then, as now, the presence of small hair-like worms in the fourth stomach was really responsible for the greatest proportion of deaths, lung-worms being present in the animals at the- same time. 'It must not bo assumed that I suggest that these lungparasites are not seriously dangerous, for they are, and many young sheep have died from tho effects of their presence. But the stomach-worms are tho worst pest, and it is necessary, in districts where.the conditions of soil and climate are favourable to their dissemination, to take practical precautions to- guard against their attacks. These precautions are summarised in the following extract from the bulletin on the subject:—

"To realise fully the value of preventive measures, the life-history of the parasites, so far as known at the present time, must be understood. Each animal'sufferinjf from the disease daily passes innumerable ova (eggs), and, possibly, also newlyhatched worms, or mature female worms, loaded with eggs, who, having fulfilled their function, die, leaving the eggs virile (a single fenwle may produce thousands). The eggs deposited on the pasture are ready fo be taken up by sheep feeding upon it, who thus continually renew their trouble. . In low-lying, wet pastures these worm-'eggs' and, possibly, also immature worms developed from them after deposition upon the ground surface, or voided by the infected animals, are able to retain their animal vitality outside the animal body for a much longer period than on dry aud sunny land. Therefore, removnl from contaminated land to dry, well-drained, not-heavily-grassed paddocks is not only essential as a matter of treatment, but tho depasturing' of young sheep upon euoli paddocks is ono of the best preventive measures. It is a notable . fact that a few parasites may bo found in the. fourth' stomach of a very great portion ot healthy and vigorous young sheep—it is only when present in large number that they do noticeable harm—and, seeing that they dq not multiply.'.within tho body, it is obvious, that suitable outside conditions aro necessary to enable them to infest sheep badly. These-conditions, as already stated, are to be "found in low-lying, wet, badlydrained pastures, in heavily grassed land where sutfaci water doe 3 not get away freely, and also, during wet seasons, on good, weli-grassed, otherwise sound paddocks. Whenever such conditions, favourable to ,the propagation of the parasite, exist, a close watch should'be kept, and at the first clear indication of parasitic gastritis t-he flock should be transferred to another paddock—the bestdrained and driest available.' 1 As regards lung-worm, tho &amo preventive measures apply, the conditions of soil, pasture, etc., which, are favourable to the spread of tho stomach-worms, being equally favourable to the worms infesting ttio lungs. - ~ '■ The sheep-maggot fly lias been known to bo present in tho Dominion for some years past, and at times causes trouble. Though w© cannot hops to rid tho country of this insect, yet by careful shepherding and precautionary measures it can. be prevented from doing any serious harm to our flocks. It deposits its eggs on dirty wool, and the filthier this is the better it seems to suit tho fly. The maggots hatched out from tho eggs" afterwards burrow into tho skin, Or, if a slight wound ba present, it affords them, a still easier means of gaining entrance. The obvious precautionary measures are to maintain the sheep in as clearly a condition in re-' sard to their n 00l as possible. Proper dipping, crutching, dagging, ctq., are necessary; and if scouring bo present car# should especially be taken to keep' tho posterior parts clear of dung-clogged wool, and, further, measures should be taken, by change of feed, etc.j to stop the scouring if possible. If a wound is sustained it should bo promptly dressed with tar. In the. case of a sheep being "struck,"' tho wool at tho part should, bo closely clipped off and strong antiseptic dressings applied to the part, all maggots found being carefully removed and destroyed.

Dietetic Disorders. In order to maintain sheep in good health and condition, care is necessary in tho matter of tho class of pasture on which they arc placed. Rough, rank grass,- especially of autumn growth, is not a suitable food for sheep, and at times considerable loss occurs through -sheep beiii" graMd on feed of this kind, A form of chronic indigestion is set up, resulting in a certain amount of fermentation occurring in tho food in the stomachs or the bowels, which is apt to cause trouble in somti form or other. In some cases the sheep die, in others they do badiy, having fits of scouring alternated by constipation. Another condition resulting from thi3 improper feeding is tho development of an inflamed condition of the skin of the faco and ears, causing such severe irritation, that the affected animals, in their endeavours to obtain relief, xub their heads against feiicc-posts, logs, or on the ground-surface, often causing abrasions of tho skin when doing So. 'J his breaking of the skin enables outside germs to gain entrance and Ml; up a condition of dry gangrene, the animals then presenting a most unsightly appearance. The whole of the skin of the head is converted into » sort of dry scab, with matter beneath, the eyes aro inflamed and often sightless, and unless proper treatment be applied in time, death frequently occurs. It has been noted that when a largo proportion of deaths do occur in an affected flock tilt) liver has been found in a stato of fatty infiltration, and the fatty condition of this important organ has naturally been a factor in ths digestive derangement which has preceded tho skin trouble. This affords another illustration of the necessity of so managing a flock, of breedingowes especially, that ths animals do not become unduly fat at any time. Breed-ing-ewes have been at times heavy sufferers from facial eczema (or facial dermatitis), as this trouble of the skin of tho head is termed. Unless in seasons when a heavy growth of rank autumn feed occurs, when it is difficult, and at tifnes impossible, for owners to avoid depasturing their sheep npon it, there should be no reason for tho sheep being exposed to the unfavourable focd-conditions liable to set up this affection, and careful management iii this direction will prevent its occurrence. If it does occur, tno prompt application of proper treatment will check it, and prevent any sever© loss. Change to rliort sweet pasture is the first measure to 1)0 adopted, and at the samo time a strong solution (5 per cent.) of Lysol, Iml, or Jeyes fluid should bo applied to the skin of the faco and ears once daily for three or four days, care being taken to prevent it getting into the eyes or on the inside of the lipi. This quickly allays the irritation present in the skin during tho earlier stages of the trouble. ■ In those cases where facial trouble does not appear, but the aheep are simply sick, or are dying from the severe digestive disturbance rot up by the rank, rough feed, the necessity for a change to a better paddock is obvious; and where the animals are considered of sufficient value to be worth the expenditure of tho time and labour ncoessitated by the administration of medicine, one or two 3oz. or 4oz. doso3 (according to age) of Epsom salts dissolved in thin gruel ,ito ot great value. Great care must be exercised in drenching the sheep or they will ba subjected to'the risk of being promptly killed by tho liquid finding its way into the windpipe and tlie lungs instead of into t.ho stomach. lambs when 011 raps are liable to doyolop; a skin affection, the skin of tho

ears especially becoming- swollen anil inflamed, general constitutional symptoms, which may result in death following unless tlio animals <iro promptly removed anil given a change of diet in a grass paddock, when they soon recover. Another form of skin troublo arjsing from the same cause is that known' as "raptsseald," tho skin along the back being usually affected in this' ease.- This has the additional disadvantage of impairing She value of the pelt. , He,re, again, a ohftugo to less stimulating feed is required. Some years ago a considerable mortality occurred every year in tho South Island among sheep, usually hoggotg, when, feeding on turnips. It was due to a disease closely resembling braxy. The cause lay in a germ present in the soil, which gained onfcranco into the systems of the animals. There is every reason to believe that one important feature in the prevalence of 'taß_ trouble at that time lay in the. dissemination of infection from the carcasses of dead eheep left to rot on the pound surface. At the same time, apart from this, there can be. no doubt that the provision of a run off from the turnips on to a good grass paddock, by providing a variety of diet and a better camping ground, is an important factor in avoiding loss from this disease. An additional advantage is that tho animals do better with a mixture of other food with the turnips, the admixture of jjras3 food aiding the digestion of the whßle, and enabling them to obtain the grttitest benefit from the turnips eaten. Dr°~3eed, as oaten chaff, hay, etc., would answer the same purpose, but it means expense, and the animals do not always take readily to it. . Southern farmers have largely availed themselves of the knowledge. gained regarding this' disease, and the losses from it are now very .small compared with those of some years ago. In 'concluding this paper, eays Mr. Heakes, I would once moro impress upon *hoep-owners the fact that good management is essential to successful sheepfarming, and that by the exercise of care and forethought much loss from disease in its various forms can, be avoided. Much of the information given is based on the observations made by Dr. Gilruth, who, during his tenure of office in New Zealand, did an immense amount of good work in connection with sheep management and sheep diseases.