The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1917-09-20

ment of Agriculture
The sheep tick is widely prevalent
parasite which is spreading rapidly,
especially among the close-herded
range flocks. 1t irritates the sheep
| which it infests, making them so rest
less that they do not feed well. This
results in retarding the wool growth
and indirectly the wool is sometimes
injured by the animals scratching and
rubbing themselves. A loss of approx
imately 25 cents a head for lambs and
20 cents a head for ewes is consid-
cred a conservative estimate for the
damage done to infested flockS.
Control by Dipping.
Sheep ticks can readily be controlled
by the use of one of number of
dipping solutions. These are described
in detail in new publication of the
United States department of agricul-
ture, Farmers Bulletin 798. A num-
Der of solutions, such as cOal-tar Gre
osote and nicotine, may be purchased
ready-prepared. The lime-sulphur-ar-
senic dip can be made at home, but
it is difficult to prepare and 1t must
always be remembered that it is poi
sonous. The proper precautions,
therefore, invariably. must be taken
in handling and using it. The meth
DDS of making and applying this pre-
paration are described in the bulletin
already mentioned. Another disad-
vantage which it possesses is the fact
that there is no way of testing, as in
the case of some Of the other prepara-
tons, the strength of the solution In
the field. It is well known that all the
solutions used for dipping sheep de-
teriorate with use and may, If not test
ed. frequently become so weak that
the sheep to pass through will receive
little or no benefit.
There should be two clippings at an
interval of "a days. The first may be
relied upon to kill all the mature in
sects on the sheep, but it may not
reach those which are in what is
known as the pupal stage, in which
they are protected by hard brown
shell. In this shell the tick remains
for from 10 to "a days, when it
energies as q mature insect.
Cost of Dipping.
Although the sheep tick is most
prevalent in the western range states,
where sheep are herded in large
flocks. it is known to occur practical
ly everywhere where sheep are Kept.
It is difficult to keep sheep infested
with this parasite in a thrifty condi-
ton, and the most economical and ef-
ficient method of dealing with the
problem is the dip. The cost or dlp-
ping will vary, of course, with local
onditions-labor, fuel and the neces-
sary materials for the watts and the
dipping solution being the most I'M
portant items. In the western range
states it is estimated that the cost
should run from 2 to 31a cents
head for each dipping. Where only
few head of sheep are kept, the farm
err need not construct vat, but may
make use of either the portable gar
vanized iron vat or of canvas dip
ming bag. If he expects to continue
permanently in the sheep industry,
however. or if there is a large flock
TO handle. a permanent dipping plant
is really a necessity. The construc-
ton of such a plant is discussed in
Bulletin 79S. This bulletin. also calls
attention to the fact that some set
back to the sheep must be expected as
the immediate result of dipping, which |
may take the form of temporary |
shrinkage in weight or constitutional
disturbances. Such injury, however, |
is more likely to result from Improper |
methods of dipping and handling than
from the direct effects of the treat
ment. Rough handling of sheep, dip
ping the flock before they have rested
and cooled off after long, hard drive,
dipping late in the afternoon when