Show sheep diseases C causing ausing losses much of trouble among western flocks can be readily controlled prepared by the th united states department ot of agriculture eu iture A series of related sheep and lamb diseases which have caused western lock flock owners downerd increasing losses can readily be brought under control by preventive measures this announcement by the united states department of agriculture Is based on tho the results of 0 investigations I 1 by dr W T huffman federal veterinarian stationed in idaho who has worked in operation cooperation co with dr J S dade inspector in charge for the state board of sheep commissioners trace many of losses in he file past the sheep men have hate accepted most of the losses from strange diseases philosophically as one of the hazards of the business but the increasing prevalence find and virulence of tile the infection have caused them to seek relief acting on requests for assistance from nok owners in southern idaho the veterinary investigators have traced many of the losses to four forms of the disease known is as these related ailments are foot rot filp ilp and leg ul tit atlon a venereal form of the disease affecting breeding stock and liver infection of young lambs through the navel in the form of the disease last mentioned affected lambs inva invariably rl die usually before three weeks old the monetary loss lg Is also heavy for sheep affected with foot rot since they cannot travel and fig as a consequence are unable to obtain much feed A similar result follows infection ath with lip and ami leg ulceration ulcer atlon moreover sick sheep fall nn an easy prey to coyotes find and other range marauders the existence of any one form of the dis ease caso may lead to other forms in the same band it fact which sheep men apparently patently ly have not understood accordingly tile investigators report the infection of adult sheep must be controlled it if lock flock owners wish to avoid the fatal liver infection of their lambs best means of control treatment for the first three forms of consists in the use of antiseptics find astringents astrin gents combined with the prompt removal from the flock of affected sheep medicinal treatment of affected lambs Is useless rig as infection involves tile the liver and soon proves fatal of the navel for a day or two Is sometimes beneficial in prevention but the best means of control Is to keep infection out of the flock where the soil Is not sandy or otherwise porous say tile the investigators we advocate the use of a layer of gravel at least two inches deep in the lambing sheds when covered with straw this makes a clean dry bed and the soil Is not worked up as occurs with dirt floors while concrete floors for lambing sheds have been suggested these ore are scarcely suitable for range conditions where the sheds are largely temporary or are on leased eased land gravel can be infected disinfected dis without d difficulty f fi it Is inexpensive and it has a s proved highly satisfactory for the p purpose ru to give tin an idea of the extent of lanit lamb losses the report states one flock master who had a band of ewes declared that this year the liver infection had been fatal to 1000 worth of lambs another owner who was grazing 1000 ewes lost of them 20 per cent from the foot rot form of the disease I 1 can control losses leases observations of the investigators support the belief that sheep men can control their losses and prevent further spread of the disease in its various rious forms if they will cure up tip all infected stock before letting it go on the range A groat great many ewes also are being shipped east and purchasers tire are urged to operate cooperate co in suppressing py any infection that may develop the disease appears to bo be associated largely with bad weather cr crowded 0 wd d and feed lots I 1 infected n f acted ranga ranges failure to separate infected promptly from the flock and muddy and lambing s sheds bed S with the control methods outlined and it clear understanding of the close relationship lation ship between the various forms of the disease sheep men need not continue to sustain heavy losses in idaho where the conditions described have received special study further information may be obtained by addressing the state board of sheep commissioners boise the united states department of agriculture washington also vill furnish bulletins on sheep diseases and parasites to interested persons |