To Improve Production

Radio Record, Volume III, Issue 9, 13 September 1929, Page 10

To Improve Production

Notes for Farmers DRDER the course of lectures introduged by the 3¥A Primary Productions Committee. Mr. BE. J. Lukey, of the Live Stock Division, spoke last week on sheep troubles. For the benefit of country readers, who desire these notes recorded, we reproduce a summary :-- Mr. Lukey said as sheep farmers were now busy with the lambing season, he would deal with the following conditions and diseases affecting the ewe and her offspring. (1) Anti-partum paralysis fgalted by some sleepy sickness, etc.). 2) Bversion of the vagina, or putting out the bearing. (3) Blood poisoning, following lambing and marking. (4) Big lamb mortality. The ewes in general had wintered well, and ard in good condition-in fact, many of them were in too high condition, and unfortunately this latter state was considered by some farmers to be what was deatrod in ewes coming forward in lambng. . , "J wish definitely to state," said Mr. Lukey, "that it not in the best interests of the farmer, the ewe, and the future lamb for the ewe to be in too fat a ¢ondition, The ideal state to be aitied at for this purpose-is to have them in good forward store condition, as some of the matters I will bring forward resnlt from the ewe being over fat." Anti-partum Paralysis. rps condition affects ewes prior to lambing, and at a certain period of the trouble, the ewes appear to be in a semi-paralysed state. In a good conditioned flock of ewes, this trouble may affect pregnant ewes any time from three weeks prior to lambing up to the time ef lambing. a The symptoms are that the ewe is observed to be dull, off feed, and separated from the reat of the flock: If approached, little or no notice is taken, Later on she will be found standing in a dazed state, will not move away at the approach of the shepherd, and may not

even pay attention to the dog. The mouth is clammy, the eyes are apparently sightless, and the animal only semi-con-scious, The eyes are sightless, there is grinding of the teeth, and probably the wool is easily pulled out. _ Under post mortem examination the carcase is always found to be in good condition, there is generally an abundance of kidney and caul fat. The liver is abnormally fatty. It is enlarged, and of a pale yellow colour, and readily broken down by the fingers. "In 95 per. cent, of cases, twin lambs are found in the womb. eo ; The disease is due to dietetic influences and want of sufficient exercise, and is associated with the plethorie condition of. the system; and particularly a fatty infiltration of the liver and kidney. All pregnant ewes of the heavier type are liable to this condition. Being heavy in lamb, with food plentiful, they take little or no exercise, and, as a consequence, rapidly put on fat. Treatment, unless in the very earliest stages is of very little value. ; his trouble can easily be prevented if a reasonable amount of care is taken. Pregnant ewes should be placed on pastures where they have to take sufficient exercise during the last month of pregnancy. If this is not possible, hand feeding should be reduced, and the ewes should be quietly driven for a distance of from one .to two miles a day, to a paddock of young oats or glass, and after an hour’s grazing, allowed to quietly. return to the home paddock, or driven back again, A lick of glauber’s salt . may be tried by placing some glanber’s salt, sprinkled on top with a little. agri-« cultural salt, out in a box on alternative days. If this causes scouring, the salts should be discontinued. I strongly emphasise the necessity of giving the ewes exercise to prevent this trouble. Eversion of the Vagina. ANOTHER disease that may be found affecting the same flock is that known as eversion of the vagina, or putting out the bearings. . The condition of the ewes in general is somewhat similar to that just described. ra This disease is due to a eombination of causes: (1) Food is plentiful. (2)

The sheep are rarely disturbed. (3) ‘The affected sheep are generally three years old or more, (4) They are in high condition:. (5) They almost invariably are carrying twin lambs. If the everted vagina is promptly and properly replaced the ewe rapidly recovers and lambs without assistance, To prevent this trouble, gentle exercise is all that is required. This should be done about three times a day, especially late in the evening and early morning. This is best done by putting an old and well-trained dog around the flock. Lambing Trouble. An overfat ewe is more likely to have trouble at lambing than a ewe in fafr conditiom The position of the lamb in the uterus varies and each case must be shandled according to circumstances. The lamb from’ a fat ewe is generally not so strong and active as one from a ewe that is in good store condition. Blood poisoning sometimes follows when a ewe has been helped deliver her lamb. It results from the womb becoming infected by the hands of the shepherd when he is assisting her. A shepherd in going around his*flock ‘should be extremely careful to have his hands elean when assisting ewes and he should avoid handling dead sheep or other animals at that period. What applies to lambing ewes applies to marking the lambs. It is the little things that count, and the smallest of all is the microbe which.is often carried by the operator, either by his hands or by dirty instruments, buckets, etc. A putrefying carcass left in the paddock is a potential source of infection... It not only acts as a breeding place for the blow-fly pest, but also, if the right organism is present, is often the cause of troubles such as blood poisoning, ete. Big Lamb Mortality, or Pulpy Kidney Disease. This trouble affects the largest and most forward lamb generally between the third and: eighth weeks of its life. The officers of the Department: of Agriculture have been investigating this condition, and various theories have been expounded, but'so far they have reverted back to the "Over-Nutrition Theory." The young lamb is thriving too fast, the ewe’s milk ‘is in abundance owing to the excellent food supply and condition of the animal. Over and above the abundant milk supply. the lamb is beginning to nibble at the grass, and any excess of nitrogenous material taken into the system is dealt with by the kidneys, and consequently these may be overtaxed. Changes take place in the kidneys, which finally break down, hence the name "Pulpy kidneys," *-In regard to prevention, the best results. have been obtained by yarding the ewes and lambs for 24 ‘hours every fifth day, This does not entail much labour and does not give the lamb a setback ‘to any appreciable extent, but it has proved effective in reducing the mortality.