DIPPING CATTLE 2M 



"After ten years' trial here we can emphatically say that in 

 haclly-infested areas no investment offers such a reliable and 

 quick return as money spent on dips and dipping. 



"To gauge in some degree the extent of the loss we are sus- 

 taining compare the number of cattle carried on these runs be- 

 fore and after the coming of the tick. The average is about 

 half now to that of formerly. Convert that into terms of money 

 to realise the loss to the community and State. 



"It is impracticable at the present time to talk of eradication, 

 "because of the impossibility of getting financial aid from the 

 :State and the high cost of fencing. But the Americans have 

 proved it possible by clearing 475,000 square miles between 1906, 

 when the work was first undertaken there seriously, up to March 

 1916. This task must be faced by us later, and because the 

 •conditions we will have to work under may make this harder, it 

 •cannot be shelved indefinitely on that score. However, what 

 concerns us vitally in the meantime is the necessity of suppress- 

 ing the ticks and doing away with much of the poverty and 

 mortality to stock now being caused by them. To undertake this 

 work each one making the attempt will very soon have his own 

 •experience to guide him, but a few suggestions may not come 

 amiss to those about to start. 



"First, put in a good wide dip 6 ft. across at water line. This 

 reduces all risks of cattle injuring each other to a minimum, 

 .and has every advantage over the narrow dip when working big 

 mobs of cattle. With a good incline and big wide steps on the 

 walk out, the weakest cattle can be dipped with little risk. The 

 •draining yard should be long, and from 8 ft. to 12 ft. wicle. The 

 •cattle walk to the far end, and stand quietly without horning 

 and knocking each other about. Dips should be arranged in such 

 positions on the run so the cattle will not be driven more than 

 7 or 8 miles. 



"The number of cattle that can be worked through one clip 

 •depends entirely on the carrying capacity of any particular 

 area. But on the tableland, so far, we have found about 2,000 

 the limit without having to drive too far. How often cattle 

 should be dipped depends upon the nature of the country, for 

 whereas on certain runs on the Upper and Lower Burdekin it is 

 found necessary to dip every three weeks through the year, there 

 are other places within the tick-infested area that find an oc- 

 casional dipping suffices. In this men must be guided by their 



