MORTALITY AMONG LAMBS

Hokitika Guardian, 24 September 1929, Page 6

MORTALITY AMONG LAMBS

HEAVY LOSSES IN NORTH

OTAGO

DUNEDIN, /Sept. 21

The problem of mortality among young lambs is again causing considerable concern in North Otago, where heavy losses' are already reported.- At a meeting of farmers, it was reported that a cure had not yet been found, but old-time remedies had been used effectively.

Mr John Fraser (chairman) said that where lambing had taken place before the beginning of the month, farmers were having trouble. The Department was fully alive to the seriousness of the trouble., but was as much in the dark as the fanners. It appeared to he a case of over-nutri-tion. One farmer had expressed the theory to him that the trouble would be overcome if cattle were grazed with the ewes, which should be given plenty of exercise. Another expressed the opinion that the whole flock should be taken for a two hours’ run daily, and another advocated yarding the sheep for a whole dav weekly.

Mr J. G. McDonald said the trouble was in lambs three weeks to a men lbold. He was confident travelling was good. Last year he 'gave the ewes plenty of exercise, and had no losses.

Mr R. Dick said last year was a good one, and he had had no losses. If it was due to a surplus of feed there should not he any great trouble this year, as feed was backward.

The opinion was expressed that after marking the trouble disappeared to a certain extent, but that a number of men on tussocky country had experienced serious losses. Instances were quoted in which there wqre only a few fatalities with old ewes, with 120 per cent of lambs, whereas there was 40 per cent loss with two-tooth ewes on top-dressed pasture. Another case was quoted in which 80 out of 200 lambs died, and after being dosed a further 20 died, but after being sold no more deaths occurred.

It was agreed that everything tlia could he done was being done.