NASAL BOT IN SHEEP.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3152, 23 February 1911, Page 2

NASAL BOT IN SHEEP.

REPORT BY DIRECTOR OF LIVE STOCK. [PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.] CHRISTCHURCH. Feb. 22. Sheopowners in the • Dominion have been experiencing some uneasiness lost mortality shouilcl be caused among their flocks by the occurrence of the disease known as nasal botfly. The Hon. T. Mackenzie, Minister for Agriculture, has had a report on the subject prepared by the Director of Live Stock and Meat. This officer, a copy of whose report has been sent to Mr G. Wittv, M.P., stated that ho does not consider that stockowners in the South Island or elsewhere need fear any noticeable mortality among sheep as a result of an attack of the parasite mentioned', as it is rare to find it cansoing dteatli. Last year serious mortality occurred among sheep on the East Coast of the North Island as a result of the diseased condition set lip by dietetic causes. In the beginning this mortality was wrongfully ascribed to nasal hot, and it has been difficult to disabuse sjtock owners’ minds, of the idea but it was really the condition described as facial eczema, or facial dermatitis. By far the greater majority of the sheep harbouring parasites of the hot-fly show no indication of any discomfort, and farmers can rest assured that up to the present there has been no outbreak of mortality in New Zealand as a result of the hot.