MORTALITY AMONG LAMBS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1895, 1 November 1913, Page 8

MORTALITY AMONG LAMBS.

-'; TAIHAPE EXPERIENCES. In common with other parts of Now Zealand, farmers in theTaihape district have experienced severe losses of lambs ■this season: So far as tho weather conditions are concerned, the season has been an exceptionally good . one, there is an abundance of grass, and there has been an almost complete absence of frost and snow. One settler in tho Kaeke district estimated his lambing 'percentage at 120, but owing, to the iigh rate of mortality, the percentage !at docking was only 93. Another setitler in the same district estimated a ipercentage of 100 from aged owes, and idooked only 60 per cent. The mortality was confined almost exclusively to ithe rioh pastures, and in the country under'native grass,- there were very few Josses. The opinion of an 1 expert was .sought, and he stated tha£ the mortality was due to the richness of the ewes' milk causing congestion, and post-mor-. tern examinations supported this opinion, as the kidneys were found to bo jin a pulpy state. Docking, with frep /bleeding, was recommended. In some teases the mortality ceased after dockling, but continued unabated, in other parts .of - the .district. Mr. "C. J. Eeakes, of the Stock Department, visited the district last; week. He agreed that congestion, due to the richness of the ewes' milk, was the cause of the 'mortality, and that immediate docking .was advisable. •■'This, however, was I only part of the remedy, The abund- ! ance and richness of the grass affected the milk of the ewes to the extent of causing congestion, and it was no vise dockings the lambs and allowing ihe ewes to remain on rich pastures. Ho recommended their' removal, to poorer iland. In ' support of his contention): Mr. Reakes stated that it w - as only among single lambs that there was a .high rate .of, mortality, which was entirely absent in the enso of triplets. In reference to the opinion expressed .by a'local farmer, to the .effect that the' cause of the mortality was'duo to't.oo existence of poisonous matter in the grass, owing.to the.absence of frost tr.d snow,-Mr. Reakes said that "sheepsick" land was, in a sense, poisoned. This was' due solely to overstocking, nnd could, be remedied by subdividing into •paddocks, so that frequent changes of grazing could be' effected.- Tho alternate grazing of sheep and cattle on the same land was beneficial; but overstocking should be carefully avoided.