CATTLE TICK.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4386, 6 March 1922, Page 1

CATTLE TICK.

MEASURES TO COMBAT THE PEST. NEW REGULATIONS GAZETTED. MANUKAU-COROMANDEL AREA' For some time past it lias been common knowledge that| cattle - tick has existed amongst the 'herds of the northern portion of the Nprth Island, and was causing grave concern to pastoralists. To such an extent was the pest' affecting herds in the north that many of the settlers in order to protect their cattle went to the expense of erecting dips in which the cattle could be treated with a view to exterminating the vermin which were making so much headway. Unfortunately, as so often happens, some of the settlers, were too lazy or too carer less-to avail themselves of these dips, with the result that the precautions taken by the wise cattle men were rendered nugatory. Director of Live Stock’s Views. A Dominion reporter recently wait-! ed upon Colonel A. R. Young, Director of the Live Stock Division of the Agricultural Department, wit|h a view to .ascertaining the reasons for amending the regulations dealing with cattle tick.

“There were several factors responsible for this,” said Colonel Young“AH over the world, where cattle ticks exist, they are regarded as most unwelcome visitors, as they cause great loss by undermining the healtn of cattle, damage to hides ,and also spread the disease over the countryside. The Department has taken this action with the view of preventing the further spread of the disease.” 1 The Director of the Live Stock Division went on to explain .that the new regulations now in force embrace the whole of the north, which has been divided into two setcions —(a) an area well known tq. be infested, and (b) an.area where occasionally ticks are being found. Much controversy, he stated, had taken place over the boundaries so drawn, as itl apn peared that in many cases patches of country in each appear to be free from tick. “But against this,” declared Colonel Young, “the explanation of the Department has been tha p ticks may be conveyed a long distance, yet not make their presence known for. two or three years. It w,as, therefore;, decided that i'tj was a sounder policy to get well outside where ticks at present existed, so that as time warranted the boundaries could be contracted ,than to adopt a narrower sphere and be continually extending so as to overtake fresh cases.” Di wing'in A Area Compulsory. Colonel Young said that under the new regulations the dipping of cattle in the A area had been made compulsory. This was brought about by the fact that some settlers were not takr ing advantage of the dips already erected in the district by other ener-i getic settlers. That being so, it was a hopeless task to try and eradicate tick, as a few breeding grounds would always be left. No catftle may now leave A area, whether infected or not, before they are first passed thrpugh an approved dip. This wpuld ensure that B area, which in reality is a buffer state, would not be further infected. Dips should not, however, be advised, be erected too close to the boundary, so as to allow of this: being gradually contracted when the time proved opportune, as such contraction would leave the dips outside the area, and they would, therefore, not be available.

“Is it possible to eradicate tick,?” was a question put by the reporter. “Yes,’’ replied the Director of t|he Live Stock Division; "it has beep demonstrated in America and Africa that ticks can be eradicated where systematic dipping is in forces and where the settlers co-operate wholeheartedly in .the matter, not only by dipping, but by burning off all rough herbage at the proper s.eason of the year.”. The young seed ticks, he ex-t plained, gain access to the cattle principally by climbing up the stalks of long grass. It was necessary that dipping should take place at regular intervals, otherwise the ticks would drop to the ground in a fertile stale and carry on business as usual. “The practical way to look upon the procedure,” said Colonel Young, “is co recognise that the ground is infected with tick, and that! the cattle only act as collectors thereof. So soon, therefore, as they have collected a number of ticks, these must be destroyed by dipping or other means, whilst the stock return to the pasture to collect more ticks.” It would appear that the Department has taken every precaution,, as no cattie can now leave A area without a certificate that they, have been dipped, and no cattle can leave B area before they get a permit from an inspector of stock. There are no restrictions upon the importation of cattle into the prescribed areas, but no cattle will be allowed out of) the infected areas,' even for show Purposes. The A area embraces all the terii-t toi’y north of a line drawn from Manukau Harbour to Coromandel, while the B area consists of the country below this to a line stretching from Kawhia to Cape Runaway.