Report on a hogget ill-thrift trial

Abstract

Extract

The term, “hogget ill-thrift” is here used in the same sense as in the papers of Clarke and Filmer (1956, 1958) to describe the condition where hoggets fail to thrive despite an abundant supply of rapidly growing grass in the summer-autumn period. In the description of the condition given by Clarke and Filmer (1958), it is stated that “anaemia is generally evident and in many cases may be extreme”. A preliminary trial has therefore been carried out where groups of animals were dosed with substances which might alleviate an anaemic condition — namely, copper, cobalt, iron, and a proteolysed ox-liver extract. Despite the small number of animals involved, it was felt that the results, particularly with the liver extract; were of sufficient interest to publish at this stage.