PULPY KIDNEY

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 148, 10 July 1937, Page 17

PULPY KIDNEY

Vaccination qf Ewes Possible

DEPARTMENTAL PLAN

Vaccination of in-lamb ewes prior to lambing has been shown to be highly useful in lowering the mortality which occurs in lam bs from .entefo-toxaemia (pulpy kidney). Duving two seasons past the Livestock Division of the Department of Agriculture has carried out experimental trials in thia oonnection in the Otago district with vaccine prepared a the department's veterinary laboratory at Wallaceville, The results of these trials together with the reports on vaccinatioh " of sheep agn'inst entero-toxaemia in Australia5 strongly support the view that va.ccinatiQn can be usefully employed to reduce losses from pulpy kidney in lambs. Commentiiig on the matter, the Minister for Afericultuye, Mr W. Lee Martin, advises that in anticipation of a number of ^heep farmers, who in some seasons lost Jambs from* pulpy kidney, desiring to taka advantage pt this line of preventive tfeatment> arrangomeuts had- been made by his departmeut to hold sufficient stocks of the vaccine at tho Wallaceville laboratory. The vaccine is that prepared by the Commonwealth Serum Laboratories at Parkville, Vietoria, and will be issued to farmers on requeat at cost price, In using the vaccine two injections are given to the ewes, the first (5 o,c.) six wefeks hefore lamhing, and the second (10 c.c.) two weeks before qommencefnent of lambing- In gfiying the inoculation a 20 c c. record syringe and suitable needles are required ; these requisites ckn be ohtained from eommercjal. firms. The technique of vaccination is not difficuit ahd ehoopowners in districts in which pulpy Uidhey disease of lambs is common, wiil' be shown the procedure hy officers of the department, Where desired, demonstrations of the method of vacoinatioh will be given to groups of interested farmers. With regard to the cost of the vaccine, Mr Lee Martin states that this would depend on the quality ordered, but where not less than a few hundreu ewes were to be treated the cost would be less. than 2d. a sheep. This outlay, he said, would appear to be a sound investment if losses in lambs were prevented thereby. The hope is expressed by the Minister that all sheep owners desiyous of adopting the preventive vaccination of their ewes would get in touch with the nearest officer of the Live-Stock Division or communicate direct with the Officer-in-Charge, veterinary laboratory, Wallaceville, from whom further particulars could be obtained. '