MORTALITY AMONG SHEEP AND L MB. CAUSED BY INTERNAL PARASITES.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 3007, 22 October 1891, Page 2

MORTALITY AMONG SHEEP AND L MB. CAUSED BY INTERNAL PARASITES.

As the mortality among sheep, and mnro particularly among limbs, is increasing the following suggestions are offered to the sheep breeders: — It is recognised that the infernal parasite* (worms) arc the chief causes of this mortality. That land becomes foul with tho germs of these parasites where neglected sheep are depastured. That under .such conditions tho losses will become greater. That to prevent sheep becoming infested with internal parasites and to treat infested sheen mediciually must become a general practice in sheep tarmiug. Lung-worm, tape-worm, and the red stomach worm are the principal internal parasites. Lung-worm causes parasitic bronchitis (Symptom :[.V soft cough), and it Rhould be remembered, that tho lung-worm is not easily destroyed by any known drench once it has reached the lung, so that, preventive measures are of the greatest value.

Tape-worm and stomach worms cause parasitic diaorrhm i.

The general characteristics of sheep infested with internal parasite s , are, dryness nf the fleece, nnthriftiness, seeming general weakness and paleness of s!»in, particularly shown on examination of tho inner cye-lld. pRKVENTIVB TKKATMBNT. \< thriving animals withstand the attacks of p.irasire.s, either that. they do not afford suitable lodgment, or that the germs are destroyed in tho diu<?>tive organs, it should be the first, aim of the farmer to keep his s f ,ojk in good condition, and in the ca?e of lumbri this can only be done by reserving fresh dean pasture for weaning on to, and when weaned on turning, g"od sheaf chaff or hay should always be provided, for turnips alone do ti')' ail'ord all the requirements for the well being of a growing animal; neither tnu»t it be forgotten that without suitable and liberal treatment it is impossihie to derive any lastingly useful result fr«»tr any drenching.

On hill farm*, where cultivation is too costly, fairly clean pastures can be secured, by depasturing Ih'Mn exclusively with cattle for s >n,e monlh-i, before weaning, for the parasites affecting sheep will not attack cattle nor those of the latter sheep, and daring such time the germs become barren or are destroyed.

As assisting; in nrevenlioti, it is vecom trended that sheep should always be allowed access to troughs containing coiunion coaise salt (not rock salt) and crushed sulphate of iron, mixed in the proportion of L'Olb of salt to .Mb of sulphate, thus forming a supply for 100 sheep for seven days. The proportion ot sulphate cm I): increased to a pound on alternate weeks September to January, ror it n »«»:>)!y con-idered tint at this teason tho development of such germs is most actively going on. KKMKimW. Itt flocks where U;i>re has been (rouble tioiii internal para-itos in previous years, of waitmcr till sheep couah and ■ si;.»ur« they should be drenched a month at least before the time at which, in the pro* viiius years, they were noticed to have i h to show .si-.'ns r,f being affected, and Lh/ fvvt ijrench slj ual invariably be followed by a s >cond within seven or ten days. In most cases it is desirable to take, away from the general lloc-k those .sheep that are most affected by the barasites, for the obvious reason that such animals require more liberal feeding and further dosing. No sheep .should he dosed until they have been fasting twelve hours, lambs, of course, being drafted from the ewes for the same time, and this fasting should he continued tor eiirht h"urs after the dosing. Firstly, because the drench is more effective while the stomach rem tins empty ; and, secondly, that it is undesirable to foul the pasture with the worm-laden voiding of drenched sheen. A sheep to be drenched is better not put on to its rump, but it should be allowed to rrimin on its feet, the pprson holding it bavin# its m-clc between his log?, his left hand holding and slightly raising its head, the thumb of tho same hand opening its month, the drench being given with the hand, from a horn or battle. The dosn should always be prevented from flawing after the hist mouthful, to allow the animal time to begin to swallow, then give the test of the dose'slowly. As dosing can only effect the internal parasites (including luiig worm), through the stomach, it will be seen that the animal must be allowed time to swallow, and that only hurtful coughing can result from hurried drenching, if the syringe is employed still greater care must bo exercised or Lhe lluid will be forced too quickly into the mouth, l'llE HOSE OH DRENCH. Many proprietary preparations usually described as specifics for lung-worm and containing a valuable tonic are being forced 011 the notice of the sheep-farmer, but it is well to note that it is impossible to benefit an animal by one or two doses of a tonic. The most useful and the cheapest drench is turpentine and new tnilk, or raw linseed oil inay replace the milk.

This doss should be about the following : Small lamb ( One teaspoonful turpentine or weanet ( Two teaspoonful milk oc nil f One dessert ap:>onful turponLarge lamb-j -j^ wo dessertspoonful milk or V oil For a grown f One tablespoonful turpentine eheap \ Two tablespoonful milk or oil

In connection with the losses caused by tins internal parasites, tlie enfeebling effect on the sheep of its external parasites (ticks and lice) should not be over-looked, and a little consideration will show us how heavily a sheep is handicapped that is started into the winter swarming with vermin, as it usually is, unless it has been dipped in the autumn, and how often this dipping is omittod or carelessly performed. Finally it is submitted to you that the losses among sheep, particularly lambs, can bo reduced to a trifling percentage by liberal and suitable feeding; that to wean lambs on to long coarse grass or on to turnips, even when helped with a pull at a straw stack, is not .suitable feed ; but that with roots and unrestricted access to sound shoaf chafT, or at least good hay, there is reasonable treatment; that profitable eheep-fanniug means the cultivation of the land for roots and winter fodder; actually that the sheep is 110 longer the farm scavenger. As there is seldom any excessive percentage of deaths among the l.unbs of the be-t stud fl cknia-ters throughout N' iv Zealand, we have sufficient proof that th>? mortality that has been described as a colonial cal unity can be over enme by liberal feeding and intelligent treatment. E. Clifton. Aucldaud, 10th October, lsyi,