Diseases in Sheep.

Feilding Star, Volume XVII, Issue 33, 7 August 1895, Page 2

Diseases in Sheep.

IMPORTANT TO FARMERS. The announcement thatMr Booking, specialist in sheep diseases, of the firm of Messrs Pottie and New South Waled, would give an oecular demonstration of diseases in sheep, "attracted a more than usually large attendance at Mr Carr's Birmingham sale yesterday. Mr Booking commenced operations by picking out a somewhat weedy hogget from a pen, and, after killing, dissected the carcase and explained the nature and causes of the various diseases it was effected with. He pointed out how easily the wool came out of the aaitnal, thus proving it to be in an unhealthy condition. Wool from such sheep was condemned by Home buyers, as not being of the proper type, and he expressed the opinion that losses from this cause were greater than from deaths. When the hogget was killed Mr Booking drew the attention of those present to the color of the blood, it beiag of a watery nature, caused by an illness of some sort. He read an extract from his firm's pamphlet dealing with the worm germ and how it effects and eventually is the cause of death of a sheep. Touching the question of sheep diseases, unlike the pig and bullock, the germs in sheep do not, as a rule, imbed themselves iv the membranes, thus preserving the flesh from human danger. The lung germ is conveyed to the lamb in the milk of the ewe, which is a great breeding ground for all worm diseases. The mere killing of worms is only part of a cure, and worms in sheep may be got rid of, but there were many parasites in the creeks, dams, and soft marshy places, which could not be got rid of. opecial means must be adopted to raise the vigor and tone of the sheep. High class vitality, tone and strength of constitution were th© only safeguards. It was not always necessary that a sheep infected with disease was in a poor condition, as a weakly animal would probably put on more fat and quicker than a healthy animal, but as they lay on the fat the death rate will iuerease, especially if they are driven far or fast. Ticks wtro a most fertile source of tape worm. It was not the mere luug worm they had to deal with, but ie was the diseased condition. He had not yet seen any fluke in New Zealand, but if it did appear the result would be very serious. In New Zealand they had to deal chiefly with pulmonary troubles, the trouble being with the lungs primarily, and secondarily with the Hver aud other organs in sympathy. A good deal of ill health waa was due to decaying vegetable matter, and he strongly recommended draining as one of the beat things to be done. He advised more care being taken with flocks in the matter of culling, as delicate ewes produced weakly lambs. The question was asked, " How is this condition of things to be altered ?" Mr Booking replied, by using preventative means, both medicinal and otherwise, and thus check the full development of parasites and minimise hereditary tendencies. The present condition of things has not been reached in a year or two, and it would take time, care, and every attention, to restore sheep to a healthy state. Many questions were asked and answered, and Mr Booking said that any information sheep farmers repuired on these matters, if they would write to Mr Johnston, of the N.Z.L. and M.A., or him, be would he Tery pleased to reply. Mr Booking will be at Mr Carr's Feilding sale on Friday next, and, as he has an abundance of information useful to the sheep farmer, we would advise all interested, who can make it conyenient, to attend at the sale or communicate with Mr Booking

on the matter.