An experimental study on the treatment and prevention of shimao zheng (fleece-eating) in sheep and goats in the Haizi area of Akesai county in China.

A series of experimental trials on methods of treatment and prevention of shimao zheng (fleece-eating) were carried out using various sulphates. The results confirmed the hypothesis that this is a local nutritional and metabolic disease, caused mainly by a sulphur deficiency, that could be prevented or cured with supplementary sulphur in the diet. In field studies, the clinical signs virtually disappeared within 14 days of the animals receiving medicated pellets. Over the same period, the concentrations of sulphur in the blood, liver and spleen returned to normal and the pathological changes in the skin improved. The condition of the controls became worse in each of these respects over this time. However, the pathological changes in the musculature were not allevated by the treatment.