FOOTROT IN SHEEP One of the greatest enemies of the sheep farmer is a small germ which attaches itself to the sheep's feet causing what is commonly known as foot-rot. Damp muddy conditions have long been recognised as potential breeding grounds for the germ which is a particularly virile one. Most farmers however are able to do little to counteract the disease during the winter months, intensive treatment as a rule being more effective during the summer when both the weather and the ground are dry enough to ensure results. Unfortunately, once establishing itself, the footrot germ is notoriously difficult to oust from the soil. Sometimes if a paddock in which infected sheep have been running is spelled for a period the germ will eventually die, but many farmers are unable to spare paddocks in this way especially since the time involved may be quite considerable. For those who normally effect their replacements from outside, great care should be taken to ensure that none of the incoming sheep have visible signs of rot. Unfortunately it is not always possible to be certain on this point as the germ may be inherent. Many a farm has had the disease introduced in this way.

What's in a name…? The Cooper name on a Stock Remedy is your assurance of high quality and complete dependability. For well over one hundred years Cooper Products have set the standard all over the world and Cooper Scientists are ceaselessly engaged on research in the interests of the man on the land. YOU CAN DEPEND ON COOPER PRODUCTS Cooper, McDougall & Robertson (N.Z.) LTD. ACHILLES HOUSE CUSTOMS STREET E. AUCKLAND Box 599 Also, when selecting sheep, it is advisable to choose those with black rather than with white feet. The latter type are much softer and therefore more likely to attract the germ, whereas black feet are tougher and more resistent. Once infected however, sheep's feet require intensive and regular care. Every two or three weeks all sheep should be yarded and their feet examined for any signs of tenderness. Those badly affected should be isolated, while sheep whose feet are free from infection should be kept away from the yards in the future as the dust and dirt there is likely to be heavily germ infested. It is a sound plan to run the sheep through a foot-bath into which a solution of copper-sulphate has been added. Probably the best method of preparing the solution to the right consistency is to put the crystals in a piece of sacking tied at the top and suspended on a stick over a barrel of water. Bluestone always takes a long time to dissolve and this method is no exception. However, disintegration of the crystals is complete, an important factor in the treatment. Sheep suffering from scald (a condition which, if not treated, will turn to foot-rot) will benefit from the foot-bath treatment as the germ will be arrested in the early stages. Where the rot is already well established however, individualised attention will be necessary. When paring the sheep's hoofs great care must be taken to ensure that all the rotten part is removed as the germ will otherwise continue to spread. If merely paring a clean hoof however, make sure that the knife does not cut in too deeply as the germ can enter through a cut. In very bad feet proud flesh (i.e., a fungus growth which grows out of or alongside the rot) usually forms. This must be cut off or burnt off with butter of antimone. Once the contaminated portions of the horn are removed and the sensitive area exposed the best salve has proved to be a mixture of tar and bluestone. This should be made dry enough to stick but not so dry that it flakes. After treatment hold sheep in the woolshed or in a concrete yard until the feet are dry. They may then be turned out and left for two or three days. At the end of that time bring the sheep in again and repeat the whole performance. In a very short time persistently lame sheep will no longer present a problem to the farmer. Finally, the importance of eliminating foot-rot can hardly be over-stressed. Sheep with bad foot-rot tend to lose condition thereby laying themselves open to various other diseases. By paying attention to their feet also, the farmer is much less likely to be bothered with fly-blown stock. Despite the extra work involved, it is well within the sheep-farmer's interests to expend time and energy in eliminating the foot-rot menace.