DISEASE AMONGST DAISY COWS

Shannon News, 30 January 1925, Page 1

DISEASE AMONGST DAISY COWS

—* ———- I/AOK OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCJti. The present season appears to be no exception in giving dairy farmers a great amount of anxiety by having cows returning to the bull. This serious trouble is certainly on the increase not only in New Zealand; but in dairy countries throughout the world, and is causing a huge annual loss to primary producers. The diseases mainly responsible for this loss are contagious abortion, sterility and vaginitis, ohe of the worst features being that they affect most readily the best cows and herds. It is generally recognised that contagious abortion is the main source of trouble, and that sterility and vaginitis are, to a. great extent, the resultants of the former disease. Investigations in New Zealand. The Live Stock Division of the New Zealand Department of Agriculture, m conjunction with the Wallaceville Laboratory; ■ have, for some time past, been engaged in a systematic investigation of these troublesome diseases affecting dairy cows. In order to establish a definite basis and lay down a proper line of investigation, the Director of the Division took steps to secure at mass of information from field officers regarding their experience and personal observations 'of these diseases as met wit}h in the course of their duties. While the bacteriological Investigations and scientific experiments are being carried out at, the Wallaceville Laboratory, several veterinary officers stationed in different dairy districts, are keeping in close touch with affected herds, make close observations, and arrange for the carrying out of treatment based upon results or upon indications secured ■at the Central Experimental Station at Wallaceville. A Make-Shift Arrangement.

While such an arrangement may be an improvement on the previous sit-" uation, which consisted of practically a total absence of scientific research in this' direction, it can, at best, only be looked upon as a make-shift* or compromise resulting from the coun-try-wide agitation for a scientific research laboratory for the dairy industry of New Zealand. America, England and the Continental'dairy countries have spent much money and thought in the investigation of these diseases. Seeing that these countries have failed to find a solution in spite of their exceptional facilities, and most elaborate reresearch work, it is* hardly likely that New Zealand will succeed with a more or less haphazard system or divided research and supervision. It is indeed hard to understand why a Government cannot visualize the absolute necessity of an up-to-date bacteriological and research laboratory, especially adapted for the needs of the dairy industry. Apart from the heavy losses caused to ‘ primary producers by diseases in their cattle, for which no specific cure has so far been discovered, there arise almost daily problems in various butter and cheese factories, the non-solution or which costs tli a country hundreds of thousands of pounds annually on account of a lowering of the quality of production* Laboratory a Sound Investment. There can therefore be no question that the establisment of a research laboratory ■ for the dairy industry would be one of the soundest investments the Government and the pro* ducens could make. It has, as a matter of fact, been urged in certain quarters that this matter should be taken up by the Dairy Control Board and that the necessary finance should with an adequate Government subsidy, be arranged by that body. So much is certain, that the question of scientific research, is, in face of recent world wide developments, one of the 'most important to the dairy producers of this Dominion.