FARM AND DAIRY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 291, 3 December 1908, Page 4

FARM AND DAIRY.

BRITAIN'S TUBERCULOSIS COWS. 25 TO 40 PER GENT. In a recent leaderette the "Heat Trades Journal" (British) said:—"ltis remarked tliat the President of the Local Government Board, who has everything to say about tuberculosis meat and milk, was not at the dairy show. On the other hand, the President of the Board of Agriculture was there, and though directly invited by Sir George Barham to say something on the subject of bovine tuberculosis, refused to do so. Why this reticence concerning a matter of national importance ? Because neither the Local Government Board or the Board of Agriculture can justify the expenditure of £OII,OOO of tile ratepayers' money by pointing to one single legislative effort to remedy the grievances complained of by breeders, feeders, dairymen and butchers. We hope when Parliament reassembles next George Barham will make it his business to ask the Local Government to proceed with the stamprigout of buvine tuberculosis, at the same time pointing out that the butchers of the United Kingdom refuse to buy stock unless guaranteed. As something like 25 to 40 per cent of the fat cows marketed are all more or less tuberculous, the action of the meat trader will no doubt commend itself to the board as a helpful and necessary service in protecting the public health." In New Zealand last year the tuberculous cows slaughtered for food numbered 520U—or 'J.44 per cent of the whole number. In one case more than half of the, whole of a dairy farmer's culls (21 out of 40 culls) were tuberculous, and in another ca.se where 50 pigs were sent in for .slaughter for food everyone was found to be tuberculous. These instances are declared by New Zealand's chief veterinarian as being " unparalleled anywhere."

Aii announcement made in thoTimaru Post is likely to lead to a good deal of controversy in butter circles. It is Unit that the Tiinani Dairy Company is opening a factory in a f<?\v (lays for tin: manufacture of butter from'homo separated cre:ui( and claims to lie in u position to pay the fanners one penny per pound mure for their butter fat than a company which is at the expense of creameries. The Post believes this is the lirst dairy factory in the. South Island to be worked exclusively by home separated cream, although there are several in the North Island worked o;i similar lines. It claims that the stock reared on "sweet" home separated milk is far belter than 011 tile often sour milk from the creameries, and that home separation has made Denmark the leading country in the world for butter.