TUBERCULOSIS IN STOCK

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 August 1938, Page 3

TUBERCULOSIS IN STOCK

NATIONAL CONTROL SCHEME URGED. GRAVE DOMINION PROBLEM. The adoption of a system on a national scale of tuberculosis prevention in stock is an urgent necessity in New Zealand. Dairy conferences have urged the adoption of a national system time and time again, but apart from the institution of testing of cows supplying milk to Masterton, the abortive attempt made by the Napier City Council in connection with its milk supply, and the adoption of testing voluntarily by dairymen, in the Wairoa and Dannevirke districts, little has been done to effect a Dominion-wide scheme. Certainly there is a voluntary system whereby farmers can make application to the Department of Agriculture for their cattle to be tested. Any stock found to be infected must

be destroyed, but the department pays compensation at the rate of half the ruling value of the animals condemned. This only applies to stock over one year and under 10 years of age. SOUTHLAND INTEREST. It is reported that Southland dairy farmers have shown greatly increased interest in tuberculosis teste of their herds. ■ At the annual conference of the South Island Dairy Association a resolution urging the institution of a national campaign was carried unanimously. The mover of the motion rightly said that the farmer who culled was at a loss to know where to get replacements that could be guaranteed free from tuberculosis. New Zealand’s competitors were taking cognisance of the problem, and in doing so were placing themselves in a position of advantage. It was impossible to say what the incidence of the disease was in New Zealand, but it probably represented a bigger problem than mastitis.