The Introduction of Foreign Stock.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 428, 14 December 1889, Page 3

The Introduction of Foreign Stock.

With regard to the regulations under which foreign stock are allowed to be imported into the several Australasian colonies Mr C. J. Valentine of South Australia read the following paper at the Intercolonial Stock Conference now taking place in Melbourne :—: — In making a few observations on the present regulations relating to the importation of stock from beyond the Australian colonies, I wish to state that for some time past the removal of the prohibition against svvinB from Great Britain, and a reduction of the period from which stock are quarantined after arrival in the colonies, has been agitated by the members of the Royal Agricultural Society of South Australia, and representations have been made to the Government from time to time for an alteration. An effort was made by the Society to get the Government to make a reduction in the period of quarantine Co thirty days after landing, but this proposal was only carried by a small majority. Claims are put forward that the long term of ninety days makes the importation of valuable animals excessively expensive, and means that only the wealthiest stockowners can afford to import. Ido not entirely agree with this view. The admission of animals into Great Britain and their movements in Europe are carefully guarded, and are under the control and advice of the best veterinary authorities, who, we may well suppose, will not be likely to err by adopting too short a period. I find these periods to vary, and the highest noted are against pleuro-pneu-monia being as much as four months in one country ; loot and mouth disease, swine fever, splenic fever, from ten to thirty days; mange in all animals and small-pox in sheep, fifteen days ; and glandeis and farcy, thirty days. For rabies it varies for different animals from two to six months. Ameiico, Canada, and Austria impose ninety days' quarantine on cattle against pleuro-pneumonia. Ninety days' quaiantine is fixed for the detention of cattle and sheep, but for horses against glanders and farcy none is considered necessary. Swine fever we object to run the slightest risk of. There appears to be something inconsistent in this system, and that the regulations are unduly exacting without giving additional security. What greater safety is there from the animal being landed for fourteen days than if they come straight to the colonies direct, and which are not so likely to carry diseased animals as those which trade between ports only a few days' steam apart ? Our present quarantine is not lone enough to keep out pleuro-pneumonia or tuberculosirf, glanders, or rabies. Only absolute prohibition can make us perfectly secure. But then the quostion can well be asked, How often have these diseases ever been known to linger for such long periods without symptoms being observable ? Such things are almost unknown, and if we can admit horses on examination, I think we may fairly act reasonably, and reduce the quarantine of cattle and sheep to sixty days, and clogs to thiee months. Rabies has been said to lie latent for twelve months, if that occurs often the disease will be introduced here even under our present system. The regulations as they stand provide that animals must be examined and certified healthy before leaving — they are examined on arrival and if diseased are destroyed ; if perfectly health they are removed and carefully treated, and isolated from all other stock in a place wheie disease has not been known to exist. They are disinfected, dressed, examined, and watched, and for three months are under most btrict supervision. All mediate means for the transmission of infection, such as fodder, is destroyed or not landed, and articles used in connection are washed and disinfected, so that, in fact, any disease which would live through all these precautions must be kepb and carried in the air, for it would be impossible to live under such conditions. No one is more anxious than I am to preserve our flocks and herds from diseases, but after carefully looking into all the circumstances which can be brought forward, and of enormous risks to be run by reducing the quarantine to a reasonable period, with the cai'eful restrictions imposed, and the destruction of diseased stock should they arrive in our ports, I come to the conclusion that the reduction of the quarantine to sixty days will not endanger our stock. In conclusion, I would affirm my conviction that with proper care healthy animals arriving in Australia may be landed under a sixty days' quarantine without injury or risk to our flocks and herds.