HEALTH INSURANCE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 05, Issue 92, 17 August 1942, Page 2

HEALTH INSURANCE

WORLD'S FIRST CATTLE WILL SAVE BRITAIN 50.000,000 GALLONS OF MILK A YEAR ■* Fifty million gallons of milk each j-ear, as well as large quantities of meat, are expected to be saved in Britain by a-heaith insurance scheme for dairy herds, the first of its kind in the world. The object is to reduce losses caused by the four principal scourges of dairy cows—mastitis, contagious abortion, sterility and Johne's disease. Although the scheme is entirely voluntary, it is expected thai 30,000 British herds, enmprisins, nearly half a million animals, will be registered in the first year. The farmer selects his own "vet" who, in return for annual fees ranging according to the number kept, from 2s (id for heifers to 12s (id, for cows, examines the herd at least four times a year and a'so makes any further visits required for treating animals affectcd. The farmer, on his part, is expected to look out for the first symptoms of disease and to comply with certain control measures. The scheme will be run jointly bj* Britain's National Veterinary Medical Association and the Ministry of Agriculture who are providing free laboratory services for diagnostic work, abortion vaccine free of charge, and suli>hanilamide at greatly reduced cost. A. small committee is to be set up bj r the Ministry to settle disputes between the farmers and the vcterinaiy surgeons.