A GREAT CATTLE SCOURGE.

Putaruru Press, Volume VI, Issue 233, 19 April 1928, Page 8

A GREAT CATTLE SCOURGE.

New Zealand must consider itself fortunate that foot and mouth disease is unknown here, and every effort should be made to keep it out. The Department of Agrictulture is keeping a strict watch upon all importations of animals from overseas for that purpose, and even produce that is likely to carry the germs of the disease is banned. The reed for every precaution is made apparent when one reads of the ravages of the scourge in England and the terrible loss that it occasions not only farmers but the country as a whole. The following, culled from a Midlands journal, gives a good idea e-f the seriousness of the problem that is at present confronting the Board of Agrictulture in England:— Six fresh outbreaks of foot and mouth disease, two of which occurred late on Saturday and four on Sunday, were reported at the Ministry of Agriculture on Monday, involving the killing of 288 cattle, 86 sheep, 129 pigs, and 1 goat, at an approximate cost of £BOOO.

These outbreaks were reported from Savile Town (Dewsbury), Longford and Elvaston (Derbyshire), Fradswell (Staffordshire), Overton (Lancashire), and Limber Habrough (Lindsey Lines). The two outbreaks which occurred on Saturday bring the total for 1927 in England to 143 outbreaks in 23 counties, and the estimated gross compensation payable in respect of the stock involved to £IIB,OOO, the number of cattle affected being 444 and of sheep 3506. Two further outbreaks of the disease were confirmed on Monday in the Overton district. One animal was affected on each of two farms, but the entire herds will be killed.

Five animals were found to be suffering from the disease at a farm at Awsworth (Notts) on Monday. In the outbreak mentioned above at Fradswell Hall Farm, midway between Stafford and Uttoxeter, 130 head of cattle are involved. The whole of Staffordshire is now included in the infected area, with the exception of a few parishes on the Shropshire border, which are in a controlled area. The total number of cases in Staffordshire is 10.