Studies in fleece-rot of sheep: some ecological aspects.

Previous work on this subject has indicated the importance of climatic factors, particularly rainfall, in the development of fleece-rot. Over an 8-year period 19 outbreaks were recorded on the F. D. McMaster Field Station, C.S.I.R.O. Of these, 16 occurred during calendar months which had eight or more wet days and 4 or more in. of rain. Using these data as criteria, rainfall records for the period 1911-1940 were examined in order to give broad definition to zones in which fleece-rot might be expected as a rare, or frequent, occurrence. Records were taken from 18 selected towns in south-eastern Australia. In the zone in which occurrence of the condition was expected to be high, there were differences between localities as to the season of the year at which expectation was highest, in the frequency of wet days per month, and in the intensity of daily rainfall. In some localities shearing during certain months of the year would assist sheep to escape fleece-rot, as they would be in short wool when it was most likely to occur.