TUBERCULOSIS IN CATTLE.

King Country Chronicle, Volume IX, Issue 739, 23 January 1915, Page 2

TUBERCULOSIS IN CATTLE.

SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPROVEMENT.

The following letter has been addressed by the Waikato Grazierß' Association to the various auctioneering firms in tha district. The subject is of special importance to farmers and the letter should be read with interest: — "We wish your co-operation in a matter of considerable importance to graziers and sto:k breeders generally. We refer to diseased stock, and particularly aa regards tuberculous animals whch pass through your yards. As you are no doubt aware, large- numbers of animals which are open to grave suspicion, are kept far too long before being condemned. This mean 3 more than a loss to graziers who have kept them, as it is a national loss that a beast Bhould be kept for nothing for, say, three or four yearß, instead of one; beside the extra risk of infection. To-day grass is too valuable to wasle, and every diseased beast kept till three or four years old meanß a cash loss of £lO or £l2 to someone, e.g., a yearling is worth, say, £4, and if condemned £2 compensation is given by the Stock Department, whereas only £4 is the highest compensation allowed for any aged beast other than pedigree anitna's. A sound three or four year old beast is worth, say, £l4, and costs no more to keep than the 'waster.' We are quite alive to the many difficulties in dealing effectually with this question, but something Bhould be done to bring under the notice of stock owners the importance of dealing early with all suspicious cases. With this end in view we would suggest that you instruct your men who draft the stock for sale to keep a vigilant eye for suspicious cases, and if a stock inspector is not present and the stock are offered, the public should be informed that they aie within their legal rights to reject stock condemned within a reasonable time after delivery is taken. A very prevalent idea is that stock are irrevocably the property of the purchaser immediately on the fall of he hammer, and we think it well that the public should be informed that this is not so. The main point is, however, that diseased stock are kept far too long, andthey are not only a menace to sound animals, but they are a serious losb to the country. Better far that a young animal open to suspicion, but not actually diseased, should be slaughtered than that a diseased beast should be kept for a lengthy period."