THE DISEASE AMONG SHEEP.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 3012, 3 November 1891, Page 2

THE DISEASE AMONG SHEEP.

In our issue of Tue-day last we published the report of an inspection of sheep in the Tauranga district, which had been made at the instanco of tho Government by Mr John F. McLean. Although of considerable interest, the report adds little or nothing to the information already in the hands of sheep-owners, .fudging by tho various roports, including that furnished by Pro fessor Thomas, parasitic worms in abundance appear to bo intimately connected with all cases of the sheep disoaso ; but whether these are the cause or only the effect of other troubles is not quite so clear. We have turned up a letter bearing upon tho subject, written to tho N.Z. Farmer by Mt A. Macdonald, late Sheep Inspector in Southland. In this it will bo seen that gentleman—presumably a good authorityattributes the mortality among Tauranga sheep to what ho terms coast disease. We give tho following extracts from the letter : I was able to identify tho Tauranga sheep disoaso with the coast disease in Australia. The symptoms are identical in every detail, and the disease iH therefore not peculiar to Tauranga. In South Australia it has been known for tho last forty years—in fact sinco tho alfected district was tirst occupied with stock. I had eight years' experience of it on that coast. It is a terrible scourge, the more so that it has oven battled every attempt made to find out the cause of it. 1 do not, in iny few remarks, purpose entering upon the scientific aspect of the cass. Thero is doubtless a causo, for the effect is unmistakable. There are various means nf prevention, but no cure except the •.emoval ot stock periodically beyond tho affected zone. This should be done at least twice in the year, and stock should not ba allowed to remain till they showed the symptoms of disease, for that will depreciate their value, for even if slightly touched in a healthy country they soon recover. The symptoms aro; First, hollowuess of tho flank ; se.cond, staring coat; third, running at the eyes ; fourth, nasal gleet, loss of cud, emaciation and death, The practical observer can tell these symptoms in time to arrest their further progress without much loss. But the safest plan for the sheep ownor is to remove twice or three times a year all his sheep without waiting for developments. Shaop-breedinsr ill a coasty district should never bo attempted. The disonse is most virulent upon young stock, lambs, calves, &c. Any storo stock from a healthy district, abovo the see of two years, will thrive and fatten in a coasty district for four months, or even longer, according to season. Avoid stock under two years old, and never attempt to breed. This, in my opinion, is tho practical view of tho caso, and all that is likely to result in any benefit to tho Tauranga Hottlers.'' With reference to Mr McLean's visit, Mr Macdonald says : " I am bound to say that nothing will result from such a visit. The researches of Professor Thomas, of Auckland, have gono so far, from a scientific point of view, as any veterinary could bo expected to go, The lungworm and parasites ohsorved by the learned professor had nothing at all to do with tho disoaso proper. They aro found in perfectly healthy country, and aro more the result of mismanagement and neglect than any local circumstance. What the people of Tauranga should do, and the Minister of Agriculture would do if the mattor was put before him in tho proper light, would be to send up a practical expert to enquire into the subject, and give a few lectures on the best mode of managing stock in a coasty district." As against this rapid recovery, we are informed by a Waikato grazier that a large loss was made upon sheep coming from Tauranga. These were in low condition, and being placed upon good pasturage, moro than half of them died. It is satisfactory to learn that wherever Larnov's Anthelmintic has bean used among Waikato flocks the be3t results have been obtained. One Waipa. settler, with a mixed flock ot 500 sheep commenced to lose thein rapidly last Autumn with lung-worm, but after once dosing with the Anthelmintic, the mortality ceased. But this same settler speaks of another complaint among the breeding ewes, which attacks them while suckling lambs. This commences with a swelling under the jaw, then scouring, and in a few days death. The experiment was tried of removing the lambs, so as to save the ewes, and in these cases the ewes recovered. The owner remembers the same symptoms in sheep in tho Old Country, where it was commonly termed rot, and was supposed to be an affection of the liver. One thing seems to bo abundantly clear. Sheep farming—which we folly believe will be one of the most profitable and permanent industries of the colony—must be undertaken only by those who are prepared to devote much thoughtful care and attention to tho welfare of their flocks. Tho old days are past. With the increase in numbers and importance of our sheep, havo come difficulties which seem to be inseparable to all human efforts. Liko everything elso, tho careful and prudent will save their flocks, whilst the shiftless and indolent landowner may find, that the keeping of sheep, is no more profitablo than other and similarly neglected branches of farming.