CATTLE TICK.

Taihape Daily Times, 30 April 1919, Page 3

CATTLE TICK.

BOARD OF AGRICULTURE TAKES ACTION. WELLINGTON, April 28 At a meeting of the Board of Agriculture, the question of ticks infesting cattle in New Zealand was discussed, as the result of a communication from the Masterton Farmers’ Union, Dr. Reakes gave the Board a full account of the nature and habits of ticks and of the possible extent of their causing loss to ’he iDominion stock owners. The Department had, ho stated, carried out a thorough au.d exact investigation and experimental work, both practical and scientific, and had verified its conclusion as to the identity of the ticks by submitting specimens of them to first class authorities in Great Britain;. It was realised that as the ticks act as conveyors of tick fever, and are not In themselves capable of setting up this disease, the presence of these parasites in New Zealand does not constitute an immediate menace in the form of causing or spreading tick fever (which has never gained entrance to New Zealand) or any other serious disease of cattle. At the same time, apart from the serious disease, they can, if they become numerous enough, cause depreciation in the value of stock and moreover afford a medium for spreading it. The Board, therefore resolved that regulations were required to apply to the North Island to make tick infestation of cattle notifiable, and to compel the cleansing of infested cattle from the parasites and the prevention of their spread to other disstrlcts through the medium of travelling stock.