STOCK AILMENTS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 41, 17 January 1938, Page 2

STOCK AILMENTS

DR. HAMMOND’S VISIT. Dr John Hammond, of the. School ■ .of Agriculture. Cambridge, who is now visiting New Zealand for the purpose of conferring with cur officers of the.. Scientific Research Department in connection with problems relating to animal husbandry, more particularly with relation to various forms of disease in stock, will be in tho country about six weeks and is now making a conducted tour of the different localities in order that lie may make;, a brief (survey of our (stock and the environment in which they are bred and reared. At the conclusion. he will furnish a report embodying suggestions for consideration in a more intensive campaign against stock disease throughout the Dominion. Dr Hammond is regarded as one of the forcrnoit world authorities on animal nutrition and as it is well known that nutritional deficiencies hear a close relationship to tho health of, all animals, it is very probable Hat the visitor will .bo able to point to directions in which the inanurial treatment of our soi,s and the pasturage of our stock leave something to be desired. In addition, Dr Hammond has for many years been .closely associated with' the meat trade in Great Britain, where his services arc in constant demand in the furnishing of reports on consignments of meat of all descriptions imported into England, besides making frequent visits to the Continent and farther afield to advise tho various Governments, on matters connected with the trade. He is, therefore, well acquainted with the sheep, cattle and pig products of New Zealand as they reach the oversea market, and has on many occasions acted in the capacity of judge of moat carcases sent from here by tho Meat Producers’ Board and agricultural societiesOf special interest to Manawatu farmers is the fact that during his stay in this centre Dr Hammond will personally judgo the porker and baconer carcases exhibited at the recent Royal Show. Pending his arrival these exhibits have been held .in cold storage at Longburn. Tho judging procedure will follow exactly the *amo lines of carcase evaluation as obtain at Smithfie’.d under an exact pointing system by measurements. Dr Hammond is one of the three specialists who devised this system after many yearn of close study of tiie ro'ationship between external and internal features of thousands of animals that were closely scrutinised. Dr Hammond will arrive in tho Manawatu on the last dav of the present month, hut tho exact details of his itinerary havo not been finally arranged. Farmers are looking forward with keen interest to his arrival and are determined to take every advantage of his knowledge during his stay in this centre. To this ond a meeting of all concerned was convened by Mr J. A. Russell, president of the Manawatu and West Coast A. and P. Association. on Saturday..-Farmers’ organisations represented wore: Department of Agriculture. Manawatu and Foilding A. and P. Associations, Farmers’ Union, New Zealand Pig Breeders’ District Pig Council, local branch Pig Breeders’ Council, sheep and cattle breeders and other representative farmers. There were a number of apologies for alesence, including letters from Professors Peren and Riddet, of Massey College, who promised every personal assistance besides making available all the college facilities for the purpose of any lectures and demonstrations. that may ba desired.

. In outlining the objects of tho visit of Dr Hammond, Mr Russell explained that he had taken upon himself tho responsibility of calling the meeting so that all farmers’ organisations would have an equal opportunitv of participating in the arrangement of the programme. It was desirable that no misunderstanding' or overlapping take place and that the hest possible use bo made of the time available. As there appeared to he some slight discrepancy between the first official itinerary and subsequent information respecting exact details of the time of Dr Hammond’s arrival, it was decided to set up a sub-committee representative of all interests to. finalise particulars after the neces-arv information is. obtained in a few days’ time. It was, however, definitely decided to allocate one full day to the inspection and judging of the Royal Show pigs and to arrange for an illustrated address in the Massey College lecture room, probably on the 'ame evening. It is expected that Dr Hammond’s visit will occupy about five days, during which he will he given an inrieht into farming and stock rearing practices in the district, in addition to spending ono day at the Foilding Show. The suh-com-mitiec will finalise all details as soon as' possible, when all fixtures arranged will b« fully advertised.