National Brucellosis Plan Urged

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30976, 4 February 1966, Page 17

National Brucellosis Plan Urged

The introduction of a national scheme for eradication of brucellosis in dairy and beef cattle was proposed by Dr. C. S. M. Hopkirk, research officer in the veterinary department at Lincoln College, at the annual conference of t h e New Zealand Society of Animal Production in Hamilton yesterday.

He suggested that it be modelled on the scheme used successfully in Christchurch in the town milk industry. Brucellosis is a world-wide disease of livestock affecting mainly cattle, sheep, goats, and pigs. It causes undulant fever in humans.

CHRISTCHURCH SCHEME Dr. Hopkirk said that in 1959 the two Christchurch milk companies asked Lincoln College to continue testing the milk supply with a view to eradicating the disease under a suppliers’ voluntary scheme. The slaughter of 1230 cows had freed Christchurch milk of brucellosis, except for occasional cases from the purchase of infected animals, but these were quickly eliminated.

Brucellosis had also been controlled on selected farms in the Helensville area, and tests had also been made for most South Island towns. Some farmers voluntarily had infected cows slaughtered, but most areas were awaiting a compensation scheme before beginning eradication.

Recently Western Germany had prohibited the import of meat from infected animals, and tests had became necessary to meet Western Germany’s requirement. New Zealand, said Dr. Hopkirk, had no national policy of control. Many other countries, however, had been attempting control for a number of years and had reduced brucellosis to less than 1 per cent, and were thus considered free.

The main European suppliers of dairy produce to Britain were free of tuberculosis and brucellosis. This with the prospect of British control, meant that New Zealand had' to begin eradication quickly. Pasteurisation made products safe, but it would be better to have herds free from disease to meet European competition. Tuberculosis would be under control in New Zealand in two years, Dr. Hopkirk said, and areas already free of tuberculosis could begin at once to eradicate brucellosis. FIRST AREA The South Island had many fewer animals than the North Island and was now practically free of tuberculosis, so obviously the first area for

brucellosis eradication should be in the South Island. A large dairy factory manufacturing butter collected cream from 21,000 cows between the Ashley and Rakaia rivers, including Banks Peninsula. This would be a compact area in which to begin operations, which could be extended north and south as eradication progressed. Repeat testings would be imperative, preferably at intervals of not more than three months. Beef herds could perhaps be tested once a year, because there was no spread by milking machines. In the early stages vaccination of calves should be compulsory, but when an area was known to be clean vaccination could be dispensed with.

Compensation for tuberculosis slaughterin’ had been fixed at £8 a head plus the salvage of the carcase. The same figure could apply to brucellosis eradication, with the knowledge that all carcases would be edible and not liable to be condemned. Until Department of Agriculture diagnostic stations were built and staffed. Dr. Hopkirk said, Lincoln College could readily carry out the laboratory side of the work. The department could very well have a veterinarian and bench staff under training at Lincoln College for this work. If this arrangement was considered feasible by the department, work could begin very quickly—as soon as a compensation rate had been arranged with the Minister of Agriculture.