The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1881-02-03
The Wool Growers in Conference.
DISCUSSING THE DISEASES OF SHEEP THE CARE
OF THE FLoCKs AND HOW THEY
SHOULD BE FED

SHOULD BE FED.
According to the published announcement
the members of the Augusta Wool Growers
Association met in the office of VIM. L. Craig
Esq, on Tuesday last, February 1st
Mr.. &. q. Chiles was called to the chair, and
u. W. koiner, the Secretary ofthe Association
acted as Secretary. Among the members
present were Messrs. w H. Greene, Benton
koiner, s. A. East, W. Arson, Jno n. Opie
l.. A. Karnes a. NJ. Bowman d. Speck and 9th
ers. DIR. Henry Hogsett, vetinary surgeon
was also present
The meeting was called principally with a
view to comparing notes on the disease which
has lately infected the fiocks of the county,
and proven fatal in so many instances
1t was entirely informal, and the proceed
ings were carried on in a conversational tone.
Capt. Jno. N. Opie was the first called upon,
and stated that he had lost five sheep Their
symptoms were stiffness about the limbs and
body, holding the head on one side and blind
staggers. He fed on corn and meal and kept
his flock in the yard and barn.
DR.. Hogsett, by invitation, gave a brief d.
agnosis of the disease. He explained that all
ruminants, such as deer, cattle, sheep and the
like, have four stomachs, one Of the most inn
portant of which is the manyplies. If a sheep
is affected by indigestion this manyplies be-
comes swoolen and hard, and presses upon the
heart, stopping the circulation and causing
death. Indigestion is brought about by want
of proper attention and exercise. A sheep
should be fed regularly ane its food proper
| toned as a horses or other animals. 1t is no
kindness to place lot of grain before sheep
| and allow it to eat as much as it wants, neither
| will it do to feed a flock of them together by
pouring out into a general heap a sufficient
amount of food for all. Some will get too
much and others too little, and the result is
very much the same in either case. On the
one hand the stomach becomes clogged with
more than it can digest, and or the other there
is not enough nourishment to keep the organs
in proper working order. In reply TO a ques-
ton by Capt. Opie DR.. Hogsett said that the
reason the sleeps head was drawn back when
affected with this complaint, is that the hard
manyplies presses upon the spinal column,
connecting with the back Of the neck. He
made these statements not after postmortem,
but simply diagnosed from description of
symptoms.
Mr.. G. W. Koiner asked if pine tops were
not good for sheep affected by this indigestion.
DR.. Hogsett-Yes Turpentne is good. 1t
aids digestion and has Wholesome effect. But
even pine tops should be given regularly, and
proportional just rs if you were feeding grain.
Wheat bran is good, but corn meal is indigest-
ible If you wan; to make rumnant sick
give it corn meal and your object will be ac-
complished in short time. 1t cements to-
gether and becomes hard and indigesrible.
Oats is a good feed, if not given in too large
quantities. Crushed corn is also good feed.
The impression that sheep do not require wa
ter is altogether erroneous. They should be
watered regularly, especially when with lamb.
They should also be sailed regularly, at least
twice week. Ashes mixed with salt is very
good Care should be exercised in changing
from green to dry ieed or vice versa
| Mr.. Lyons, near Hebron church, lost 90
sheep. Want of proper attention was the
principal cause of the mortality among them.
! Col. East said that he always tried to keep
his flock warmly sheltered in bad weather.
| He fed oats, bran and ashes; sailed and
watered regularly. Pine tops were generally
spread in his field and the flock allowed access
to them whenever they desired. Plenty of
exercise he deemed absolutely essential. Only
one of his flock of some hundred or more had
died.
In response to an inquiry from Col East,
DR.. Hogsett stated that eve with lamb should
be treated just as the other members of the
fold, with perhaps little more care. If you
Keep the digestive organs in good order, and
| give the eve plenty of exercise, the lamb will
not be hurt. AS a purgative the Doctor did
not recommend any kind of oil. Salts was the
best, and an average dose was teaspoonfnl 10
the sheep. Flaxseed, in small quantities was
not Objectionable, but the effects were not as
good as from salts dissolved in warm water.
Continuing, Dr. Hogsett said the winter had
been hard one and sheep required much atten-
ton. 1t was necessary to house them and have
them regularly fed and exercised if good results
trusted to Tom, Dick and Harry One man
should attend to the flock and see that it is
fed regularly and that each sheep gets its due
! proportion. If they seem languid stir them up,
run them around the yard and let them get
plenty of exercise. If one is noticed to be
under the weather, separate him from the rest
so that he may not be i'll treated by his fellows
In conclusion DR.. II. added that If the sheep
were properly housed, properly fed, watered
and exercised no serious consequences need
be apprehended. The affection which had
proven fatal to SO many sheep in the county
was nothing more nor less than indigestion.
brought about by want of proper care When
sheep shows the symptoms it should be
dosed with salts and watched.
On motion a vote of thanks was rendered
Dr. Hogsett.
Mr. Chiles stated that his flock was in
healthy condition. He had lost but two, both
of which were heavy with lamb. They seemed
to be affected with this indigestion orconsti-
patton. His flock had been ted on sliced tur-
nips and bran, and seemed to be thriving. If
one of his sheep appeared weak orailng in any
way, he had it separated from the flock and
treated.
Col. East was Of opinion that sheep exposed
to such weather as last Monday night, when it
rained and sleeted for twelve hours, would get
their fleeces saturated and as it would be a
long time before the wool would dry out, they
would be very injuriously affected.
Mr. Chles thought that sheep in healthy
condition would not get its fleece saturated
The natural oil in the wool would prevent the
water from penetrating it.
Capt. Benton Koiner, one of the largest and
most successful wool growers in the county,
said that his fold was in excellent condition.
He had lost two bucks,b but they had been sepa-
rated from the sheep. Out of 1856 lambs he had
lost only 20, and those were generally of twins.
He keeps his lambs sheltered and tries to keep
his whole flock in dry place. He feeds she'll
ed corn and bran, half and half, and allows
about pint of the mixture daily to a sheep.
For dry food he used fodder cut fine and mash
ed. The sheep cat all of this except the pulp
of the stock and relish II Ciovar saed hay