At The Furrow’s End

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 176, 15 October 1927, Page 18 (Supplement)

At The Furrow’s End

Combating Bush Sickness

Development of large areas of land in certain parts of New Zealand has been held up by so-called bush sickness. Seemingly healthy and well-nourished cattle and sheep have suddenly sickened and. unless taken to fresh pastures, died. Losses amounting to many thousands of pounds sterling have accrued as a result. Yet authorities are to be found to-day who contend that this “bush sickness” can be economically combated. In fact, under proper conditions, they contend it is not to be feared. 44 1 n the hands of competent farmers bush sickness in Rotorua is a thing of the past,” stated Mr. T. B. Downing, president of the Rotorua A. and P. Association, to a special representative of THE SUN the other day. Provided with a stock list recommended by the Department of Agriculture and fed judiciouslj’, Mr. Downing stated that experience in the Rotorua district all went to show that farmers had little to fear for their stock from bush sickness. This had been, proved on the Government’s experimental farm at Mamaku, right in the heart of the alfected area. Stock had been kept there for four and five years without showing the least sign of the sickness. One farmer at Kaharoa, as a result of using the stock lick and providing supplementary fodder for his stock, had. after a period of successful years at dairying, been able to sell out his interest in change paddocks. Certainly there must be some method of combating this hitherto inexplicable

disease, and it seems that the Rotorua experimenters have found the way. Judicious feeding and cultivation where possible have combated most farm land troubles and, with the addition of what must be a soil deficiency in the bush sick areas in the form of a stock lick, then it appears that these lands can be worked at a profit.

Judging on Record

At last the Auckland A. and P. Association has decided to make a break from the old sterotyped method of judging solely on type, and has allotted classes in the dairy cattle section which take pedigree into account. Three cups valued at 12Jgns each, two presented by the Manufacturers’ Association, and one by the Employers’ Association, are to be awarded to cattle, the progeny of C.O.R. dams. It is hoped to increase the number of classes in this section at future shows. The production record of the dam will be a large factor in the judging of the animals. Type will be a secondary consideration. When it is considered that in the sale ring to-day butter-fat production is the factor with the biggest pull, and, in fact, the factor which inevitably draws the biggest prices irrespective of type, it can 'be seen that the Auckland Association is moving along the right lines. Common-sense and experience tells us that type is only a secondary consideration. Is it not fitting, therefore, that in making our awards we should judge somewhat on the same lines of the careful buyer in the open market?