CATTLE SURVEY OP TfiE AMBIT6AR DISTRICT. 21 



not been responsible for a large number of deaths. The mortality 

 amongst goats and sheep was very great. The exceptionally wet season 

 favourable to the development of internal parasites and the shortage of 

 fodder owing to excessive rainfall and floods must be regarded as the 

 causes. 



Agriculturists generally attribute the disease to feeding on panna or 

 rotten grass, that is grass that has been flooded and become muddy and 

 rotten. The fact is that grasses that grow on marshy land are generally 

 innutritions and impoverished animals readily succumb to the attacks of 

 internal parasites especially 'strongyles'. In many cases it is uncertain if 

 death should be attributed to parasitism or starvation. A number of post- 

 mortems were made on animals that had succumbed to gillar and in 

 some no parasites were detected. In these cases it may be that the symp- 

 toms arise from pure debility due to inferior or harmful food plants. 



A further investigation into the kinds and description of parasites 

 which cause the condition will be made as opportunity permits. So far as 

 has been, ascertained at present ' sfcrongyles' are the usual causal agents 

 though other species of parasites may be present as well. Feeding experi- 

 ments with suspicious plants and grasses will also be carried out if pos- 

 sible. 



It remains to record that with a liberal and nourishing diet animals 

 usually recover without medicinal treatment if they are not too far gone, 

 but this is recognised by few agriculturists. Those who do recognise it 

 admifc that some animals are saved in this way, but when fodder is not 

 available they let matters slide and lose their cattle. The question of 

 supply of fodder will be discussed later. It is intimately connected with 

 this disease which assumed such serious proportions in the past year and 

 may do so again. As soon as an adequate supply of fodder became 

 available and the land began to dry up reports of the disease became less, 

 and many affected animals recovered. It is well-known that animals will 

 recover from parasitic disease without medicinal treatment if liberally and 

 judiciously fed. 



