THE TAURANGA SHEEP DISEASE

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIX, Issue 3200, 29 December 1892, Page 3

THE TAURANGA SHEEP DISEASE

After a careful and lengthened examination of the Tauranga country by the Chief Inspector of Stock, undertaken with the view of determining, if possible, the nature and cause of the disease in sheep peculiar to that district. MiMcLean comes to the conclusion that the herbage is unsuitable for rearing healthy sheep. "As to why this is so," he says, "I can hardly say—it may in some measure be due to the geological formation of this country, or perhaps to the want or excess of some mineral matter in the animal economy. However, it must be borne in mind that this is not a solitary instance of country on which it is found impossible to rear sheep ; there are all over the world similar tracts of land on whish sheep-breeding can only be carried on with the aid of arti6cial food stuffi. I am informed that grown sheep fatten readily on this country. Would it not pay then to fatten off shetp from the Waikato, which are at present being fattened there at the cost of country that would be more profitably employed in breeding stock ; or, if the Tauranga settler prefers to keep breeding ewes, why not sell off ewes and lambs every year, soon after shearing, and buy again for the following season a fresh lot of ewes?" He suggests that the establishment of an experimental farm might lead to some good results.