SHEEP AFFECTED WITH LICE

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9081, 4 May 1908, Page 5

SHEEP AFFECTED WITH LICE

SLOVENLY DIPPING THE CAUSE. (By a Practical Farmer.) The number of prosecutions by the inspectors of • the Stock Department of settlers for exposing sheep infested with lice at this time of the year, . just after dipping has been completed gives some food for reflection and comment, and very clearly indicates that sheap are not properly dipped by many settlers. It is quite well-known that a great-deal of dipping is done in a very perfunctory manner, just to satisfy the requirements of the Act and inspectors that the animals have gone through some kind of dipping process-i-a blind for the time beingl Hence some one is always before the Court. Some of these delinquents are so shortsighted and blind to their own interests that they fail to realise that such parasites as ticks and lice are a serious handicap, and most detrimental 1o the welfare and condition of the r flocks. These parasites are muh more prolific in some seasons than others, and generally abound more on low-conditioned animals than on those in good health. In consequence of the drought and the poor condition of sheep and lambs there may be a great increase of the pest in some of the flocks in the district this season. Even so, there is still no reason why sheep should Le in an infested and dirty state immediately after being dipped if the work had been carried out in a proper manner, it may be asked what constitutes effective dipping? This question may be answered very tersely. A clean muster of the paddocks to insure every sheep coming in, and the immersion of the animals in some reliable dipping compound, for a sufficient period of time to completely saturate the whole fleece of wool on the sheep. It is invariably the custom of manufacturers of dippingfluids and compounds to state in their instruction for use that, the period of immersion should be not less than one minute, and this in practice has been found quite effectual. Thekport of the Stock Department last taar quite bears out the contention tKjat the trouble arises from inefficient dipping, "as in several districts? freshly-dipped sheep have been found\ infested with live lice." Like a great \ deal of work performed in connection ' with sheep, there is too much hurryj " scurry over dipping. In such operif : ations it is wise to "hasten slowly;*' Long dips (60ft) are advocated by in spectors and others, and they are of the greatest possible use to insure good work. The trouble" is that many of the small farmers have only very short ones, and perhaps cannot afford to have them of such dimensions as the larger flockmasters. Sheep can, however, be just as effectually treated in 3 15ft or 20ft swim dip as in one of 60ft, if the animals are not rushed through. Time must be allowed 1 for' each individual sheep to become thoroughly saturated in the mixture, and then the work will prove satisfactory. Sheep may be kept in the dip any, length of time that the owner may deem advisable by the very simple contrivance of having a sliding gate just at the bottom of the incline leading up to the draining stage, so that the animals can'-be soaked in a thorough manner. Some sheep require a longer time in the dip than others, according to the amount . of wool upon them. If sheepowners would- follow the few hint 3 here thrown out they would avoid the annoyance and expense of being mulcted in fines in the S.M. Court, while their flocks would be in far stronger condition to withstand the rigours of winter.