HEALTH OF STOCK

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 772, 19 September 1929, Page 11

HEALTH OF STOCK

REVIEW OF PAST YEAR EFFECT OF TOP-DRESSING (THE SUN’S Parliamentary Reporter) PARLIAMENT BLDGS., Wed. A very slight increase in cases of tuberculosis in cattle is shown in the annual report of the Agricultural Department, presented to the House of Representatives today. Returns furnished by inspectors at meat-export slaughterhouses and abattoirs show that the number of animals found to be affected in any degree with tuberculosis was 5.22 per cent., this being an increase of 0.12 per cent, on the preceding year’s figures. An analysis of the returns indicates that this is limited principally to cull :ows fattened for beef in the North Island, and it may be a reflection of the closer segregation of animals on pasture areas of dairy farms, the 'arrying capacity of which has been increased by top-dressing, combined vlth greater protection given by the aeavier growth of herbage to tubercle ttcilli. On the other hand, the number of tubercular animals condemned on arms and at saleyards by inspectors iecreased by 4 per cent, as compared »ith the preceding year. Pigs affected with the disease showed i decrease of 0.38 per cent. As regards dairy cows supplying the Min centres of population, the position is satisfactory, as is shown by ite fact that of 714 composite samples f mixed milk of individual herds, subjected to biological examination, only 'our were found to contain tubercle a&cfllL