Story: Agricultural and horticultural research

Bush sickness cured

Bush sickness cured

The likely cause of ‘bush sickness’ was identified as cobalt deficiency in 1935 by two Western Australian scientists working with a similar problem. Trials at the Cawthron Institute in Nelson showed that if sheep suffering from the disease were dosed with a small amount of cobalt, recovery was rapid and dramatic. Both of these sheep were afflicted with bush sickness, but the one on the left has been dosed with 1 milligram of cobalt per week.

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Te Ara - The Encyclopedia of New Zealand
Reference: Bulletin (New Zealand Department of Scientific and Industrial Research) 69 (1938): 65

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How to cite this page:

Ross Galbreath, 'Agricultural and horticultural research - Advances in soil and animal science', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/19677/bush-sickness-cured (accessed 20 April 2024)

Story by Ross Galbreath, published 24 Nov 2008