Dec. 2, 1920.] Agricultural Gazette of N.S.W. 861 



Safeguarding Farm Stock from Disease* 



(3) By Correct Teeding. 



[Concluded from page 814.] 



MAX HENRY M.R.C.V.S., B.V.Sc. 



SHEEP. 



The principles affecting the feeding of sheep are studied still less than those 

 affecting the feeding of other animals, but in drought periods their con- 

 sideration is often a matter of very great importance, demanding attention 

 in relation both to cost and to prevention of mortality. 



Sheep grazing in paddocks are subject to the diseased conditions asso- 

 ciated with the same method of feeding in cattle — that is, tympanites when 

 brought on to succulent feed suddenly, impaction of various organs of diges- 

 tion after a long course of dry feeding, acute poisoning from prussic acid 

 developing plants, and slow poisoning from Darling pea, &c. Tympanites 

 or hoven usually occurs in mobs of travelling sheep, sheep just off trucks, 

 and those recently brought from a dry area to more favoured spots. The 

 losses are at times exceedingly heavy, and those measures of prevention 

 which can be utilised with animals on a farm or holding — ^methods such as 

 only allowing the animals to remain a short time on such succulent grazing 

 or supplying them with some dry food before allowing them on it — are often 

 not practicable. Any such steps as are possible, however, should be taken. 



The second common cause of mortality — impaction of various organs — 

 is not so readily recognised or dealt with, since it is apt to be of slow onset 

 and to follow a long period of dry feeding. The tendency is to regard the 

 fact that sheep have lived for some considerable period on scrub or very 

 dry innutritions food as evidence that the food is sufficient for them, but 

 as a matter of fact a continuous lowering in tone is taking place, varying 

 in degree according to the quantity and quality of the food. This lowering 

 in tone may be so slight that no ill effects are observed, and when good feed 

 comes again the sheep recover their tone; on the other hand, it may be so 

 marked that the digestive system becomes unable to deal with the food, 

 impaction results, and heavy mortality may follow. This is particularly 

 liable to occur in pregnant ewes towards lambing time, and in sheep that are 

 travelled or put to some other strain. In between these manifestations are 

 all gradations of the trouble, and in many cases only small numbers of the 

 weaker sheep may die. What the animals suffer from is actually slow 

 starvation. The impaction is certainly increased by the astringent nature 

 of so many scrub fodders. It is impossible to lay down any hard and fast 

 rules as to when and under what particular conditions mortality will occur, 

 but it is obvious that the longer the period of innutritions feeding the more 



