SHEEP DIPPING LOSSES

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 25, 13 February 1937, Page 19

SHEEP DIPPING LOSSES

A Frequent Complaint NEED FOR GREATER CARE The loss of shee^> after dipping is a uommon complaint ; in fact, it is all too jomtnon and the Only explanation that can account for the frequency of the complaints is insufficient care at dipping time That is the opinion of Mr vVilliam Pieraon, B.Sc., M.R.C.Y.S., who is recognised as a Ieading veterinary anthofity. Jn conversation with the Writer recently, he said that there were very few preparations, if any, that were not perfectly safe to use, provided that ordinafy care was exercised and the manufacturers ' instructions strickly observed. He pttt the most common causes of after-dipping losses in the following order:— Mechanical or inhalation pneumonia is by far the commonest cause of after dipping losses in sheep, and at times loss from this cause Oould be materially reduced if not eliminated altogether if greater care was talcen in the handiing of the' sheep through the bath. Sheep in high cohdition suddenly immersed in a cold bath tend to gasp and are liable to inhale the dip into the throat aird lungs — mueh more so should the head be pushed under at this moment. Dip inhaled in this fashion enters the lungs and the resultant irritation induCes what is itnown as mechanieal or inhalation penumonia. Symptoms of this type of pneumonia are seen generally two or three days after dipping when° a few of the sheep- are Seen to be lying about in a dopey condition. On further inVestigation they are noticed to be breathing heavily. A few are generally found dead on the third day, usually with a blood-stained, frothy discharge at the nose and mouth. On the fourth or fifth days the highest percentage of death occurs, the trouble later tailing off until the seventh day when as a rule it ceases. Ordinary pneumonia is brOught on by adverse weather following dipping before the sheep dry out, dipping too late in the day, dipping hot sheep, or driving freshly dipped sheep. Sheep in an anaenjtic condition through internal parasites fall an easy 'prey to pneumonia. Blood poisoning (Malignanf Odema and other germs): Germs of this type linger in sheep yards, sheds, pens, etc., and enter the system of any sheep with shear cuts, scratches, bruises or dog bites. Protruding nails in old yards are common cause of this trouble Arsenical or carbolic acid poisoning: Both are very rare, altnough at times arsenical absorption is brought about by driving dipped sheep until they become heated. It is typieal of arsenical poisoning that the careases do not rapidly decay, but become more or less preserved.