ARCHIVE FILE
This article was published in 1956
See the original document
INSTITUTE OF INSPECTORS OF STOCK OF N.S.W. YEAR BOOK.
AIDS TO FOOTROT TREATMENT
G. CHARLES, B.V.Sc., Inspector of Stock, Forbes.
The present epizootic of foot troubles in sheep has necessitated a widespread use of footbaths, and the designs seen have been many and varied; ranging from 44-gallon drums cut in half lengthwise to elaborate concrete structures. Considerable ingenuity has been displayed and the following two have been found to be very convenient and are described as being of possible use to other people. They represent examples of a simple type and an elaborate type.
The simple type consists of two galvanised iron trays, each 6 feet long, 20 inches wide and 4 inches deep. These are easily portable and are set up, end to end, in a race made of iron posts and ringlock wire, with a gate between the two trays. The owner sets it up at the gateway into the clean paddock, musters the affected sheep, pares the feet where necessary, footbaths them and lets them directly into the clean paddock. As each sheep's feet are pared it is placed in the first section of the race. When this section is full, the first two sheep are moved into the second section, where they remain until the first section is again full, when they are let out. This method has several advantages. Firstly, the sheep have a satisfactory time in the foot bath and, secondly, although the solution in the first section soon becomes dirty, that in the second section is always reasonably free of organic material and so retains a greater strength as there is little oxidation taking place. Thirdly, the sheep go direct from the bath to the clean paddock, and run no risk of contamination en route. A thick coating of pitch or bitumenous paint enables bluestone to be used quite safely.
On another property, where the numbers to be treated were fairly large, the owner installed a yard holding a number of sheep, and to avoid the difficulty which does arise in forcing sheep to enter water, he evolved a method whereby the solution is drained off and the sheep enter the yard with nothing but a damp floor. The yard was 10 feet by 6 feet, surrounded by a wall 4 inches high, and with the floor gently graded to a central point on one side, where a gap in the wall led to a sump, the three dimensions of which were 2 feet 9 inches. The sump was just outside the fence of the yard and was surrounded by a wall higher than the yard wall so that the solution flowed back into the yard when forced out of the sump. The sump held about 125 gallons of solution. When the yard was full,a concrete block was lowered into the sump and displaced the fluid into the yard, covering the floor to a depth of about 2 inches. After the necessary time had elapsed, the block was raised, the fluid drained away, and the sheep left the yard without splash or bother. The block was raised and lowered by means of a wire cable running over a pulley and attached to a tractor.
To avoid the back-breaking stooping when paring. owners have adopted a number of ideas for controlling the sheep. Some owners have constructed wooden cradles similar to that illustrated on page 9 of "Rural Research in C.S.I.R.O." No. 12. This consists of a wooden trough made of two 9in. x 1in planks set at an angle of 45 degrees or less, and with a 4-inch gap at the bottom. The sheep are laid in this, on their backs, restrained by a rope across the brisket, and the work can be done in a standing position. Other owners have done similarly, but have utilised lengths of 2-inch piping set in a "V" shape.
Another owner has constructed a light iron cradle which rests on the ground. The sheep is caught, laid on its back in the cradle, and the four feet are fastened into U-shaped bends at each corner of the frame by means of metal pins to close the "U". The owner then does his paring and painting of the feet from a conveniently placed seat.
A third owner, who could neither lift nor stoop as the result of a bad back, modified his automatic bag loader on his motor lorry. A wheat sack was fastened to the two arms of the loader, forming a cradle. The sheep was caught, placed in a sitting position against the loader, which was then raised to a horizontal position and supported by a prop. The sheep was then treated and when finished the loader was lowered and the sheep released. The tray of the truck serves as a convenient table for instruments and containers.
Many other odd contraptions could be described, but as their appeal would be limited to the men who initially contrived them, they have been omitted.