CATTLE TICK IN NEW ZEALAND

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 176, 21 April 1919, Page 8

CATTLE TICK IN NEW ZEALAND

NOT THE QUEENSLAND VARIETY NO SERIOUS DANGER r A statement regarding the cattle tick Hrhich is causing so much'anxiety among .pastoralists in tho North Island was made by the Minister of Agriculture . (the Hon. "\V. D. S. MacDonalu) on Saturday :— "There seems to bo considerable anxiety amongst pastoralists about 'ticks in cat- „ tlo," said the Minister. "It is a matter .'.that lias been under observation by the tAKricultural Department for some years. : 'As far as tho scientilie men of tho Department are concerned they think there [is oio causo for alarm. The question of •ideating with theso ticks has been given iverv careful consideration, and it has . toeen decided to draft regulations for the jiurpose, and these are now in preparation. The question has had to be considered'very carefully from every point \ot view, seeing that the .most careful tiinauiries and investigations-which have (lieen ihadei'and are'still going on in those Tjiarts 'of the north whero tho parasites fare most prevalent, have failed to reveal '. any- single case in which a cattle-beast •'Bias shown indications of suffering in ijiealth as a result of their presence upon St. ; "The ticks are of a different variety !to those which in Queensland act as con|>ever3 from animal-to animal of the rMisease known as 'tick fever/ which "■causes verv serious loss to stockowners 3n that State. This disease, 'tick fever,' j "is npt present in New Zealand, and ney.'r ■has been, and the additional quarantine -.leirulations made specificially to prevent •"'worm-nests' and qifcuro-pueumonia gam-. |Sng entrance into New Zealand from Australia live further strengthened our position in keeping out this disease. Ticks . cannot cause tick fever. , "Any repressivo action taken now, (therefore.,must he taken on tho lines of (preventing possible future trouble, by Jdestfoying the ticks when found,' and'of doing what is possible to prevent the spread oFthesc parasites to other parts of the Dominion. Their 'spread in the north is no doubt due largely to the ' warmer climate, which is favourable to their propagation. As a matter of .fact, Jticks of this class have been present for .generations past in most other countries, including Great Britain, and practically the whole of Europe, though under the colder weather conditions prevailing .there, and also the different conditions .Tinder which cattlo are kept, they have never .been any source of trouble. In New Zealand, inquiry shows that they ,were found'ln the extreme north at least twenty-five years ago, and again in an:'other area north of. Auckland twelve years ago, and during the whole of tho intervening periodl no instances occurred ;in which any ill-effects have been traced to them. ~;.;,• .-...„. ; 7-. •■ '."It is necessary to make the .position clear from the poiut 'of view as staled, but in order that no risk may be taken ■in the direction" of possible .future .trouble, it is, as already stated, proposed to take reasonable and proper measures ,to cope wilh these parasites, as informa- ' tion obtained from other countries, where tho climate, is suitable for "their easy dissemination',; indicates that somo monetary loss can be caused by them when thev become very numerous.' How mone- • itary loss is brought about may be sum"marised as, follows:—

' "(a) By; tho lowering, of condition l?throußh loss of blood when large numi;licrs of ticks are harboured by one ani- \ "(h) By'decreased milk-yield of cows numbers of ticks, ji'- "(c) Bv deterioration in the value of ;Slides. WKefi large nmnbers of ticks are present tho'-.value of .'the hide for con- . (version into "leather is reduced. It is .tetated that;a badly affected' 'tieky' hide 'is worth from 45.-to 10s'. : "less than if sound. i, "(d) Poss.ihlo TBor,tality' among animals liarbonriiig large numbers of ticks when ,thev are already weakened by various iforma of sickness, insufficient" food, etc. . v "Tho conclusions arrived at by the Scientific officers of tho Department as ;to the identity of these ticks have been confirmed by high authorities in. England, to whom specimens were sent for -Crimination.'" -