INVESTIGATION OF SHEEP DIPS

Groups of 30 sheep of four breeds (Merino, Dorset Horn, Romney Marsh and Border Leicester), that had been maintained under the same environmental and nutritional conditions were used in showering experiments with a diazinon emulsion. The fleeces of all breeds stripped (or depleted) diazinon from the dipping fluid. Diazinon was not deposited evenly down the length of the wool staple. On the Merino fleece, more diazinon was deposited on the outer section and less on the inner section near the skin. On the other breeds, more diazinon was found in the inner and less on the outer sections. Differences in the magnitude and location of the diazinon deposits are discussed, with the aid of supplementary in vitro dipping experiments, in relation to the compactness of the fleece and the amounts and distribution of wax, suint and dirt found there.