DISEASES AMONG SHEEP.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 3016, 12 November 1891, Page 2

DISEASES AMONG SHEEP.

Is a recent issue we published the report finished to th« Government by Mr McLean re the Tauranga sheep disea«R. Our readers will remember that Mr McLean attributed the mortality practically to insufficient food and want of proper care—inanition and poverty—but never mentioned the propabiiity of there being a disonso peculiar to coast districts such as that referred to in a later issue by Mr McDonald, formerly Stock Inspector in Southland.

Our contemporary the Herald, in referring to the matter, read the Tanranga people i> lesson upon the general management of sheep, quoting Mr McLean's report and advised them, in a friendly manner, to exhibit less neglect in respect to their flocks in future. Not bad advice either. But by a singular coincidence, Mr McLean attributes much the same causes, for a mysterious disease among sheep, in one of the mott fertile and well grassed districts in the colony, viz., Taranaki. The following extract from Inspector Drummond's report for the Wellington-West Coast districts will he read with interest:—"ln the Taranaki-Hawera district there was a large mortality among the weaners-lambs. From Mr McLean's report this appears to be due to ansemia, or poverty of blood, but as to how this is causod there does not appear to sufficient evidence to show. Tn both these instances if the mortality recnr, further investigation is desirable." Perhaps our contemporary will read the Taranaki people a lesson upon the improvement of their pastures. It would appear that we must look elsewhere than to our veterinary surgeons for a correct explanation, as to the complaints which are visiting our flocks.