DISEASES IN CATTLE

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10300, 1 August 1911, Page 5

DISEASES IN CATTLE

A QUESTION OF INSPECTION.

THE SPREAD O.F MAMMITIS

Mi* Henry Preston, dairy farmer, of Clareville, writes as follows to the Wairarapa, Age : ' 'Just a fe-w lines of your valuable space re the- inspection of dairy herds in the Wairarapa.. It seems to mo that this department of our Government is run on- political lines. As (tins election: is diraw/iaig close wo, as farmers, are informed tQwough your papor that tthrSi Government Vet. has made his appear aavee- in, Masteirton. I would like to know where hie ihias bean for tlhe last two or three years, as I have, (tried on several to get him to inspect cows with various diseases, such as tuberculosis, imammitis, arthritis, garget and cancer; also foot and mouth disease. All the sat'iisfactiion that 1 got was a packet of .pamphlets telling nve how to deal •writh the above diseases. In a. pamphlet issued by .Mr Reakes I am told that cows* witih mamtmiitis .moist be turned out and allowed to rear calves. I did this, a.nd the results would astound you. As the calves contracted arthritis, I applied surgical skiill to them, to keep them alive .until I could get expert's to whom I could show what .mammitis would do for calves. Still I received pamphlets, and buried my calves. I would like to draw their attention to this dread disease, maonmitis. It is even more deadly than:. tuberculosis. After I tost my calves garget .set itn, and with great difficulty 1 saved my cows. Im one case I used-/ surgical instruments on the udder to get away the discharge. 1 .also used strong drenches. By so doing the disease wuns driven, from tfhie body of the cow into her feet, wiitlh tlie result that, she lost ail her claws. Still I •could not get a.uy oxpeirt advice otlier than pamphlets, and. being thoroughly disgusted I gave up, and isemt to .the New Zealand Veterinary Supply Company, Wellington. With a certificate of their good faith, I received another batch of pamphlets, and also a. letter informing me that if I .wamtedi a vet. to inspect , my herd, I was to bear all expenses of same, otherwise they could not accede to my wishes. When isiuch cases a.s these are turned aside, ihow ccrn the j)tiblac expect to get pure milk, butter and cheese ? I know of ro other farmer in the district killing more- aaiinals with these dread idiseases during the hast two years wivl.'out eompenjsation thaai myself. Man- - ' farmons, if tliey haivo any suspicion of their eowe being infected, send them, off to tine sale, instead of !•■ -.11ing:them. These- sales are whereour yet. '.should always be, and if there-,are a<hy infected cows, they should .see that they are not sold. It d.s much easier for a farmer to get rid of. a cow through the sale than get her oxaonimed and killed. A farmer may get hcis entire herd tested toklia.y, and to-morrow he buys probably another cow or two not tested. Now, d«esi this stand for pure''.milk for, the people? Jusrti ? a word on. paisteairisinig. . I would like to isee it miade compulsory for all creameries Mid cheese factories. Until such time sis it is done we cannot expect to get clean cattle, pigs, etc. Also la ward -to ithe housewife. ; To allay her feelijiigs against disease, ,she (should 'boil all milk for domestic and houseliold. purposes, and allow ,it/to cool before using. I ha.ve. done this now: for. over twenty year a, -with good results. Also use butter wlhieh is pasteurised. Cheese you "will have for the present to use your own di:s>cretion about.