STERILITY OF COWS

Hokitika Guardian, 5 August 1929, Page 6

STERILITY OF COWS

RESEARCH BY DEPARTMENT. OUTLINE OF ACTIVITIES. “Tlie Department is actively engaged in research into temporary sterility in cows, and this lias been in progress for over four years. The causes of this trouble are obscure, and a variety of lines of research are being followed up, the work being shared by tlie WallaceviHe .laboratory staff and selected field officers working in close co-pperation.” The above statement was made by the Minister of Lands (Hon. G. W. b’orbes) in the House of Representatives m reply to a question bj’ Mr C. A. Wilkinson (Egmont). The Minister stated that the special staff engaged were: At .Wallaceville laboratory: Air C. S. AI. Hopkirk, B. (officer in charge); Air D. A. Gill, M.R.C.V.S., D.V.S.M.; Mr J. Hill-Motion, AI.R.C.V.S., D.V.S.AI., B.V.Sc., B.Sc.Ag. ‘ (Mr Gill had left for a trip abroad for the purpose of gaining new knowledge, . especially with regard to .dairy’ cpw disease.. Air Hillmotion recently, arrived in New* Zealand .after having. spent some months at the best laboratories in Great Britain and the Continent of Europe, where he paid special attention to dairy cow diseases).-. In the-field), the stuff consisted oif: Mr C. V. Dayus, M.11.C.V.5., Mr W‘ M. Webster.,.M.R..C.V.S,', B.Sc., and Mr T. A. Blake, AI.R.C.V.S. Mr Webster was working in North Taranaki. Air Dayus .had been in the AVaikato for tlie; past- four years,; and. was now oh.transfer to Otago. Air Blake, who had already done a considerable amount of investigation into sterility, succeeded him in the Waikato. Air Aston, chief chemist, rendered valuable help.

“ Apart from these special investigating officers,” said the Minister, “the field veterinarians, and stock inspectors of the Department carry out observational and advisory work and apply experimental methods of. treat--ment, all -this •.-furtiishing’ information Ifor the laboratory staff. l - Air HopTark, who is in charge-at AVallaceville is a highly’ capable ; man, trained: in labora-= torv investigation: work from his early: youth. When going .through : his .college lie specialised in bacteriology and pathology-. " Air‘Gill'-came to New Zea-i land as a young man, very highly recommended, and lie lias fully proved his worth. Air Hill-Motion lias -good 1 recomipendations and has already shown himself to he a valuable addition to the staff.

“ By arrangement with the Research Department and Afassey College,' an extension of the ‘work is about t.o he’ undertaken by a highly skilled scientist, who, by systematically breeding small .animals which' will give quick “reproduction, and a quick succession of generation after generatioVr, and feed’iiig them 'on .various diets oriknown de(ibieneies' or known ' unbalanced’ mineral c'biitdn't, wifi'• he' able ■•‘to •' study the ' effects; of diet’ : upon ‘reproduction,

“Till research •■at ' ‘AVallaceville inbludes experiinenf's'witli hulls and cowSj find much examination of material from infected herds, sent in by tlie field officers, who keep affected’herds under - observation, and pursue inquiries' and investigations in various directions. Tlie main lilies of research may 1 be summed up as—(l) AA’hether the trouble is by infection; (2) the analysis of soils and pasture plants, and the influence of soil and pasture conditions, including the use of lime and fertilisers, and dietetics generally upon sterility; (3) the physiological conditions associated with heavy and prolonged seasonal milking; (4) the effect of various drugs used for both external and internal treatment. ;'“A further development this season will ! l>e the establishment of a field laboratory ili if dairying district. . “Aliich of the work' necessitates the ’od-o'pqrat'ibn of 'individual farmers),' ‘and this is freely obtainable, financial assistance being given when necessary. “The Department is not yet able’to give' farmers positive"'information as to methods which'can be relied upon to prevent, temporary sterility, hut by mean's of literature and by'direct advice by veterinarians and stock officers, it gives tlie best advice.and assistance possible in the present state of tlie world’s knowledge of this trouble, and this advice, if carefully followed, is,of considerable value. , . x “There are a number of proprietary remedies on the market, some sold at ...gli prices, hut the Department is unable to state that any of these are reliable as preventatives of temporary sterjJitv. In the case of (1), where particularly misleading information was given, the. matter has been taken up with the -proprietors. ; How best to deal' with this question of proprietary remedies in ’those.? cases '-where circumstance j render it necessary, is having verv frill consideration.

“Filially, it maybe accepted thntthe officers engaged :in, the Departnient’s research and investigation, work are well, equipped for it, not only ns regards ’their knowledge ami, skill, hut also by their keenness and .enthusiasm. Tlie field, research officers were selected On account of their special faculty for this class of work.” \