Volume 01: Production and resources of the northern and western districts of New South Wales, 1854 [ca. 1850-1857] - Page 202

During the early years in the northern districts less attention was paid by the settlers to the requisite supply of Salt for their flocks that at present, this arose partly from the difficulty of procuring the necessary supply, first from the roads being in bad condition, and the entire absence of regular Carriers on these roads, which Compelled the Settlers to load the whole of their yearly Supplies on their own drays thus necessarily limiting the quantity of this essential article for their flocks. It was then Considered by Some of the Settlers that Sheep required no salt on the range of New England, that the Salt in the air from the Pacific Ocean was sufficient, & that where limestone was found that the Sheep required no Salt. these theories have long Since been exploded. On the range of New England Sheep require Salt at Stated periods yearly, in quantities of one ton & upwards to every thousand sheep. Off the range, in Liverpool Plains, in the Bundarra Country, in Gwyder District*, on Darling downs, Burnett & Leichardt district Sheep require Salt, & the neglect of the proprietor is great if this is not attended to. The early occupants of Sheep runs in the northern interior found that Careless & inexperienced Shepherds frequently allowed their Sheep to run to what is termed the Salt licks that is to where the earth & clay is impregnated with a soda, which is found on almost every run, this they found to be ruinous to their Sheep and that who;e flocks were in Course of time destroyed by their baneful apology, by the use of which the Stomach of the Sheep became as thin as paper, that the health of their Sheep declined & that deaths in great numbers took place. Salt is as essential to the Sheep in the whole of the Northern districts as the run itself, and as far as the ranges exist, and that part of the Country is as far as Sheep farming ought to be pursued Salt ought to be given to the Sheep at certain times every year.

By attending to this many of the Sheep farmers have found their labour, trouble & expense well repaid by their flocks being in better Condition & the wool from their Sheep much improved. Rock Salt is very generally used all over the northern interior, when ground salt is employed troughs ought to be prepared, & the Sheep fed from these, there is much waste of this valuable article when it is laid on sheets of bark, the sheep trample & Scatter more on the ground than they Consume, the Carriage alone of this useful article into the interior is a Matter of Consequence, when rock salt is employed it ought to be removed on the appearance of rain, or Covered up in Sheets of bark always at hand for this purpose, too much care Cannot be taken of Salt on a Sheep Station

* Some farmers allow to every ton of salt [indecipherable] sheep on some runs require more Salt than on others

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Volume 01: Production and resources of the northern and western districts of New South Wales, 1854 [ca. 1850-1857] - Page 202

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Volume 01: Production and resources of the northern and western districts of New South Wales, 1854 [ca. 1850-1857] - Page 202

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