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This article was published in 1951
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INSTITUTE OF INSPECTORS OF STOCK OF N.S.W. YEAR BOOK.
Case Reports
T.R. JONES, B.V.Sc., Inspector of Stock. Wagga.
1. Trichostrongylosis in Merino Weaners.
This case is reported in order to record mortality in weaners due primarily to a heavy infestation of Trichostrongyles during hot, dry, summer months; a period during which losses from this cause are considered to be unusual. A number of such cases were reported during January, 1951, and the case recorded is typical of many.
Between September, 1950, and January, 1951, losses amongst a mob of 350 Merino weaners amounted to about 160. It was stated that losses at first were due to "black scours" but although the flock was drenched with phenothiazine in September and again in November, no real progress was made in arresting the losses, although there was a noticeable decrease in deaths following drenching. The sheep were on pasture said to be nutritious; mostly wheat stubble infested with skeleton weed. Rotation was not a strong point in the owner's method of husbandry and the sheep were neglected during the period of the harvest and holidays; i.e., November, December and January.
On inspection in January the mob looked generally listless with a noticeable "tail" of poorly grown and debilitated sheep. No actual scouring was noticed, but there were signs that scouring had occurred within the previous month or so in only five or six sheep. Only errant storms had occurred during the three months previously mentioned and these had averaged 60 points at a frequency of about three weeks. Prior to November, rains had been slightly above average and the winter had been mild with hardly a frost. In July the lambs developed "scabby mouth" and they were weaned in September, when scouring and losses were noticed.
Post-mortem examination showed the weaner to have a lobar pneumonia involving about one-fifth of the lungs and from which pasturellae were recovered. There was light infestation of Dictyocaulus spp.
The abomasum held a heavy infestation of Trichostrongylus spp. with a few Ostertagia. Some Trichostrongyles were present in the first ten feet of the small intestine. In the caecum colon a number of Oesophagostomum venulosum were found but little significance was attributed to these. No other changes inconsistent with the above were noted.
The sheep were drenched with bluestone and nicotine, moved to a "fresh" stubble and drenched again with phenothiazine about 16 days later; with another move to a "spelled" pasture. A supplement of wheat was also fed. Losses ceased within a week of the first drenching and a month later there was noticeably more life in the "tail." Within two months the flock was regarded as normal.
2.—Wheat Poisoning in Sheep.
Two cases of wheat poisoning of sheep are recorded.
Case 1. A mob of 1,200 four-year-old Merino ewes which had been joined for about two months had been travelling the roads for about three months in search of grass. They were low in condition but still quite strong. A stubble paddock was secured and the mob turned in about 9 o'clock one morning. At about 2 p.m. the same day a number of the sheep were found dead; and most of the balance of the flock affected to some extent. The sheep were mustered immediately from the stubble and turned into an adjoining grass paddock.
At about 4 p.m. the mob was inspected, when approximately 200 were found dead and about another 800 badly scoured and able to walk only with difficulty, the feet being very tender. Abdominal pain was in evidence and the scour contained much blood and mucus. Many cases of rectal prolapse were seen and in some cases at least six inches of the rectum was protruding.
Within the next four days about another 400 ewes died, but except for some tenderness in the feet the balance of the mob had recovered.
On inspection the crop was found to contain sizeable patches that had lodged in storms, and so was not harvested, and most of the grain in the head had shot; the shoots being one-quarter to half an inch long.
Post-mortem examination showed an intense irritation of the secreting intestinal mucosa and the rectum was filled with a semi-gelatinous blood-stained material. Large quantities of wheat were found in the rumen but very little congestion was seen until the abomasum was opened. The congestion became progressively more marked along the length of the intestine to the colon and the rectum, where the walls actually were almost as gelatinous as the contents. Other body changes were in sympathy with the enteritis described.
It would appear, therefore, that shot or sprung wheat may be rapidly fatal to hungry sheep if available in quantity.
Case 2.
Eight hundred (800) first-cross, two-year-old ewes had been turned into a wheat stubble following stripping. The usual precautions had been taken and for a week everything appeared in order.
Eight days after having been put on the stubble, twelve ewes were found dead or dying and about another forty appeared sick.
When the property was visited it was found that all the dead ewes showed signs of having scoured; while around the tank soft droppings containing blood and mucus were seen. About thirty sheep seemed sick and unhappy and approximately a further twenty showed some tenderness of the feet.
Post-mortem examination of a ewe killed in extremis showed a fair quantity of wheat in the paunch with some congestion of the abomasum and small intestine. There was little congestion of the large intestine but the rectum contained soft, fluid faeces with mucus.
On examination the stubble had patches of unharvested wheat where the machine would not work owing to the presence of skeleton weed. The grain was examined but there was no sign of springing.
The case is reported as being unusual in that deaths were delayed until eight days after the sheep had been placed on stubble. The owner stated that he had sewn the bags himself and was positive that no wheat had been spilled on the ground.