BLACKLEG MORTALITY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8057, 28 February 1906, Page 3

BLACKLEG MORTALITY.

Referring in iht- mortality from blackleg inoculation, tin- AVanganui Chronicle says:—Something is wrong, and the sooner it is put right the bettor. One alleged cause of the trouble is the fact that whereas a mil, or " blackgoid" was formerly used, liquid matter is now employed, tl is claimed that whereas the quantity of solid vaccine could be actually guaged, there is no guaranlee, under the present system, Unit a calf shall not receive an overdose. We have witnessed (he operation, and we can qiiile believe that the injections may not be uniform. In the lirsl place an announcement is made that on a certain date a certain inspector will visit a certain locality to inoculate calves. On the day in question the cadves are driven to the spot, and each herd is treated in rotation. The calves are forced into a long race, and the inspector who has a syringe filled with vaccine from a receptacle carried with him, makes an injection behind the shoulder of each calf. The syringe is lilted with a screw which is adjustcd,after each inject ion, but unless great care is exercised (and, in view of the fact that half-a-dozen calves are inoculated in as many minutes, this is almost an impossibility) one calf may receive half, or perhaps all, of the dose Which should fall to its neighbour's lot. One syringeful of vaccine will sulliee for about six calves, and, when it is emptied, the inspector leaves the race to refill it. During Ins absence some person may or may not " keep your hand on this one till T. come back." The consequence is that mistakes are likely to occur. It, however, appears to be certain that ninnv a calf which is healthy prior to inoculation, is dead a few- .lays afterwards. When I lie Chief Veterinarian was iu Wanganiti justifying the inclusion of the Wanganui district within (he black-leg area, a well-known fanner, who does not mince words, declared that the inspectors were simply •• pumping dirt into clean cattle." Was he right '? Future developments will certainly be eagerly awaited.