SHEEP DIPPING

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8351, 11 February 1913, Page 2

SHEEP DIPPING

ENFORCEMENT OF THE STOCK ACT. THE AUTHORITIES MOVING. “It is a matter for regret that the requirements of the Stock Act in t e matter of efficient sheep-dipping have in many instances not been so tnoroughly carried out as they should be. As a result a number of prosecutions have had to be instituted in consequence of sheep harbouring hce having been found exposed for sale in. public saleyards.” - , . , , . The foregoing paragraph is taken from the annual report furnished by Mr C. J. Reakes, Director of the Dive Stock Division, and serves as a timely reminder to flockowners of the approach of the regular dipping season; and taken in conjunction with the hint that was given by Mr lleakes when addressing a gathering of farmers at Feilding last week that the authorities intended to enforce the provisions or the Stock Act more strictly m future, should arouse those who have been negligent in the past to a proper sense of their duties and responsibilities with regard to assisting in the control and elimination of diseases and parasites that are a menace to the well-being or the flocks of the country. It has been shown on many occasions that lousy and tick-infected sheep are a very bad bargain to the owner, and considerably curtail the earning power of the flocks of the country.' The authorities have set out to try to remedy these weaknesses and solicit the co-operation of all farmers in their endeavours. Prosecutions in the public courts have only been instituted where warnings have been disregarded, but unpleasant as is this final means of bringing the careless to book, it is the only oho to adopt in the interests of the whole of the farming community. Inspectors have been instructed to be thorough and rigid in their examination of sheep exposed for sale, and no effort will be spared to see that the dipping of sheep is properly attended to. F’erhapa the chief reason why dipping operations are not carried out as frequently and thoroughly as is requisite is to be found in the absence of proper dipping conveniences on many sheep farms. The practice now in vogue, for several owners to use one centrally-situated dip, is not conducive to the best results. It is generally recognised that wherever possible it pays to dip the sheep at least twice during the year—that is, the regular flock—but now that dealing and buying ip stores for holding and fattening purposes enters so largely into farmers' calculations it is au absolute necessity, as a safeguard against contamination from outside, that every new line purchased should be immersed in a reliable compound before being given the run of the farm. This procedure is not expensive when a dip is handy, and the little cash outlay is doubly repaid by the increased rapidity with which the sheep, especially lambs, put on condition when they are clean and healthy, to say nothing of the extra value given to the fleece. Another essential to successful dipping is that the contents of the dip are sufficiently powerful to bo effective. Where three or four owners use the same dip the flock generally follow one another during tho same week, and a great deal of guesswork is indulged in as to the strength of the dipping mixture after the first flock has been immersed, unless the dip is emptied and recharged several times during the progress of the work. Even when sheep are kept in .small numbers a dip is a very necessary part of the farm equipment, and the small outlay- required for its construction is quickly repaid by the convenience and effectiveness provided.