FACIAL ECZEMA

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 April 1938, Page 3

FACIAL ECZEMA

OUTBREAK IN WAIKATO WHOLE FLOCKS DESTROYED NEARLY EVERY FARM AFFECTED (By Telegraph—Press Association.) HAMILTON, April 26. Pathetic sights are being witnessed on practically every farm in the Waikato district; hundreds of sheep and cows suffering from facial eczema are being slaughtered daily. The disease is still increasing rapidly, and the toil on some farms has reached appalling proportions. Many methods of treatment are being experimented with by farmers, and there have been some encouraging results, but nothing conclusive has yet been established. In some cases whole flocks have been destroyed by sending them to the freezing work's to be killed and boiled down for fertilisers. The disastrous results of the outbreak can be gauged by the magnitude of the losses suffered by individual farmers. Before the outbreak, Mr L. H. Larner, Kiwitahi, had 400 sheep on his property, but at the end of this week not a single animal will be alive. Nine hundred of his flock were trucked to the works last week and 1500 more were taken away by motor-lorry the other day. The balance will go later in the week. Another promiment farmer, an neighbour of Mr Larner, has lost his entire sheep flock and Cattle herd and his family are using tinned milk. It was stated today that so great has been the demand for tinned milk among the farming community that this commodity is unobtainable in Morrinsville. Farmers at Ohaupo and Tuhikaramea also continue to experience losses. Several of them have sent from 1000 to 3000 animals to the works and have lost hundreds, and in some cases thousands of pounds through the disease. An outstanding case is that of a farmer who had nothing but roughfeed on his property and. who has entirely escaped the trouble. Neighbours with recently topdressed pastures have lost practically all their herds and flocks. MANY THOUSANDS KILLED AT AUCKLAND FREEZING WORKS By Telegraph—Press Association. / AUCKLAND, April 26. Approximately 27,000 sheep and lambs affected with facial eczema have been killed and condemned for human consumption at Auckland’s three freezing works at Westfield since the beginning of March, when the disease began to make its presence noticeable among stock. One company alone has handled 16,000. The numbers at first represented about 30 per cent of killings, but in the past two weeks they have increased to 60 per cent. No cattle or pigs suffering from eczema have been killed by any of the companies.

Road transport wagons have taken load after load of sheep in varying stages of infection from scattered districts toward Westfield in the past two months. The numbers reached a peak last week, and many loads still poured into the works today. Valuable stock and inferior sheep alike have suffered and farmers in the worst affected districts have been compelled to send large portions of their flocks away to be destroyed, the task being an impossible one for them to undertake themselves. At present one of the companies is doing nothing else in the works except kill infected stock for the convenience of clients who have been forwarding high-grade mutton throughout the season. So far about 7000 sheep and lambs have been killed in this way. The company had closed its works after the export season, but under the demand it had to restart operations and re-engage butchers who had been paid off. At first the butchers caused a hitch by demanding double rates of pay, but when it was made clear that they would contract no disease from the sheep they accepted the work at ordinary rates.

None of the meat can be used for food. The disease causes it to discolour, giving it a jaundiced appearance. The carcases are boiled down to produce tallow, which is also of a yellow colour and inferior to that of non-af-fected sheep, and the blood and bone are used for fertiliser products. The wool and skins are of questionable value. At the most, farmers receive up to about 4s a head for eczema stock, and out of this return, transport, amounting to Is a head, has to be paid. A POSSIBLE CURE SUGGESTED BY OTAGO FARMERS’ UNION (By Telegraph—Press Association). DUNEDIN, April 26. Realising the gravity of the outbreak of facial dissease among cattle in the Auckland province, the Otago Provincial Council of the Farmers’ Union at a meeting today discussed a possible cure and sent a 'telegram outlining a remedy to the Auckland council of the union. Mr R. J. E. Smith said that treatment used by farmers when an outbreak occurred years ago in Maniototo consisted of the application of Stockholm tar to the affected parts and giving animals three packets of salts a

cow, and one and a half packets a sheep. If Stockholm tar was not available castor oil could be applied. POSITION IMPROVED GOVERNMENT RESEARCH CAMPAIGN (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, April 26. Reports now being received by the Department of Agriculture indicate that facial eczema is fairly prevalent among live stock in the Manawatu, Taranaki and Hawke’s Bay districts. However, the outbreaks in those areas are not so serious as that in the South Auckland district, where the disease is taking a heavy toll of dairy herds and sheep flocks. An official of the department stated yesterday, that the position concerning facial eczema in live stock had changed little in the preceding 48 hours, but the cooler and overcast weather conditions had diminished the number of fresh outbreaks. As soon as the cold weather slowed up grass production and hardened feed generally, fresh outbreaks would cease. That had been the experience in the past. “The Government realises the importance of discovering practical methods for avoiding future epidemics, and so intends to carry out a thorough programme of research,” he said. Preparations are being made for this work to begin immediately. “Trials being carried out at the Ruakura Farm of Instruction show already the value of liberal feeding of ensilage. The department has persistently advised farmers to establish ensilage pits, but those farmers who have not taken this advise and are now unfortunately without ensilage should fall back on hay, which should be fed liberally. The object of hay feeding is to reduce the consumption of the flush herbage, which is very marked on all affected farms.

“Many farmers are still apparently afraid that the trouble is contagious. Research, not only in New Zealand but in other countries where severe losses occur, has definitely shown that such is not the case. Facial eczema is not contagious. However, farmers are advised to segregate the affected animals for greater convenience and efficiency in the treatment of these animals. This is particularly advisable in cases where the farmer has only a certain amount of shade and thus can protect only a portion of his stock from direct sunlight. The removal of stock from direct sunlight is a most essential part of the treatment.” TREATMENT ADVISED DEPARTMENTAL STATEMENT The fairly widespread development of facial eczema among sheep in the Dominion has prompted the Department of Agriculture to prepare a special report on the disease, with suggestions for the cure. It is considered to be due to this year’s unusual climatic conditions causing dietetic trouble. The extended dry spell caused a cessation of grass growth on heavily grazed pastures. Autumn rainfall encouraged a rapid growth of the pastures, and the sheep then suddenly absorbed quantities of chlorophyll in the green food. This colouring matter in plants became absorbed in the liver which had been affected by the conditions during the dry spell. The result has been an increased sensitivity to sunlight, and the symptoms, inflammation of the face, eyelids, nose and lips, are regarded practically as sunburn due to the live disturbance. The director of the Live Stock Division stages that the trouble is not contagious, a number of sheep affected in a flock being only the result of a common cause.

Facial eczema of sheep has been known to occur periodically in New Zealand for 30 years, and it has been noted that it is most severe at the end of an exceptionally dry Summer. A factor which frequently precipitates an outbreak is a rapid growth of pasture following rainfall in the Autumn, the explanation being a sudden intake of chlorophyll into the blood. REMEDIAL SUGGESTIONS It is officially advised that if affected sheep are grazing on rapidly growing grass, that the first essential is to shift them to bare feed, or to a paddock in which the feed has got away, and is more fibrous. The whole flock must be dosed with Epsom salts, up to four ounces for a full-grown sheep, and two ounces for lambs, in about three to six ounces of water. This should be repeated in half doses after two days’ interval. Shade and protection from the sun is a vital necessity. Very bad cases should be brought under cover in the day-time. Another necessary part of the treatment, adds the Director, is the application of a black, non-irritating dressing to the face and ears. This can be made by adding Stockholm tar to pure mutton fat or lard, to bring it to the consistency of vaseline. Another useful ointment is the following: 1 lb. of lard, 2 tablespoons of boracic powder, and sufficient lamp-black to blacken the mixture, which should be smeared liberally over the affected parts. It is desirable that the feed should be balanced by the addition of more fibre. The placing of hay in wire netting along the fence or allowing

sheep access to a hay-track, are suggested methods. “The trouble,” concludes this official statement, “has been proved by investigators to be dietetic, and in future seasons like the present one it will be essential for sheepfarmers on high carrying capacity country to avoid the development of liver derangement by feeding green crops, hay or ensilage, regularly during the occurrence of dry Summer spells. POSITION IN WAIRARAPA ONLY ODD CASES REPORTED Enquiries made in Masterton this morning showed that although an odd case of facial eczema has been reported near Masterton and the South Wairarapa, so far there has been no serious outbreak in the disease in this district. It is hoped that the cold snap now being experienced will arrest any tendency for the disease to become more widespread locally. It is stated that out of a line of 1500 sheep Which left the Wairarapa recently for the Waikato, 400 have died from the disease, which had been contracted since their arrival in the Auckland district.