Pastures Past: Lice, ticks and sheep dip, the joys of farming back in the day

Nowadays farmers know the importance of spraying to keep their sheep healthy. Photo / Pexels / Donovan Kelly

Kem Ormond takes a look at the world of farming back in the day.

Back in the 1920s ticks and lice were rife in sheep.

Lincoln College reported that the sheep tick could be eradicated in one year with a combined effort, but not with blowflies.

In Hawke’s Bay, a lot of farmers were being summoned to the court and fined for not dipping their sheep.

Nowadays farmers know the importance of spraying to keep their sheep healthy, especially during the hot summer months when flystrike can be at its peak.

Sheep dips

To the Editor

Fielding Star, January 30, 1897

Sir, — in your paper you advertise Murton’s Sheep Dip as costing 45s per 2000 sheep dipping.

This statement is misleading and deceptive — as the sheep farmers whose attention is called to it keep a description of sheep that carry fleeces of wool, at the time when dipping must be done, which requires at least 800 gallons to dip 1000 sheep, mixed sizes.

If all are large sheep 900 gallons will be required, and at that all dip water from the draining pens must be returned to the dip.

The cost in No.1 Formula would be 40s per 1000 sheep, and not as stated 22s 6d.

The cost in No 2 Formula would be 32s per 1000 sheep dipping, and not as stated 22s 6d.

If the maker of the dip fluid means merino sheep, or shorn sheep, as costing 45s per 2000 sheep dipping, then I have no objection to his statement.

I am, etc.,

John Holden.

Why sheep dipping fails

Excerpt from a Waipawa Mail supplement, December 9, 1921

Why is it that so many sheep farmers in New Zealand persistently and consistently neglect the dipping of their sheep?

It is well known that this is as important as the feeding of them.

Tick-infested sheep will not thrive, and tick-stained wool means low value, both together mean loss of revenue.

Sheep owners must be as fully aware of these facts as they are of the fact that dipping is the only known means of destroying parasites on sheep.

And yet when dipping comes round little or no consideration is given to its importance, and it is rushed through.

The inevitable results of this evil practice are ticky and lousy sheep, ill-grown animals carrying inferior wool, monetary loss, and the condemnation of the sheep dipping preparation.

A sheep dipping reminder to farmers in the Hawke's Bay Tribune in 1934. Image / Papers Past

Control of sheep tick and eradication in one year

Excerpt from the Poverty Bay Herald, November 25, 1933

Complete freedom from sheep tick is possible in one year, according to the half-yearly report of Lincoln College presented to the board of governors.

The report states: —

“It is estimated that in New Zealand approximately £180,000 is spent annually dipping sheep to control keds and lice.”

This amount does not include labour costs, depreciation in wool, or losses due to deaths following dipping.

“From what knowledge we possess of the control and eradication of these parasites it is possible to state that by a combined effort freedom from lice and keds could be achieved in one year with a total expenditure of not more than three times the amount that is at present being spent every year. In arriving at this conclusion we have considered the possible value of dipping in preventing attacks by blow flies but are not satisfied that it is all effective.”

The report consists of a review of the present knowledge of the life history of the sheep ked (tick) and its control, and certain data which have been collected during an investigation by the entomological and veterinary departments of the college.

Lice means fines

Dipping is corrective measure

Position in Hawke’s Bay

Excerpt from Hawke’s Bay Tribune, August 22, 1934

As the shearing season approaches, it becomes necessary to remind farmers of the necessity for dipping their sheep in accordance with the Government regulations.

Last year a number of farmers in Hawke’s Bay were summarily hailed before the court and fined.

The expenses entailed by dipping may be considerable, but most farmers would prefer to invest their money in dipping rather than in paying fines.

There are other aspects to be considered besides the financial ones.

The regulations regarding the dipping of sheep which are enforced by the Live Stock Division of The Department of Agriculture are not only in the interests of the sheep but are also intended to protect careful owners of sheep who recognise the necessity of keeping their stock in good order.

Sheep ticks and lice are easily spread from an infected sheep to a clean sheep and unless the sheep are dipped a farmer may find that, through no fault of his own, ticks and lice may have spread to his flock from a neighbouring flock which has not been dipped.

- Source: Papers Past