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H.—29

LIVE-STOCK DIVISION. REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR. Stock Conditions generally. 1 Generally speaking the year has been a favourable one for stock, the winter having passed without any serious difficulty in regard to general conditions and health arising. Little is still done, however, in finding additional winter feed for dairy cows, which too often enter upon their lactation period in a poor condition, thus requiring to use for the building-up of their bodies food which should be utilized for increased milk-production. The intelligent provision of winter feed is a sound business proposition for the dairy-farmer, as the maintenance of the general health and constitution of the dairy cows is necessary for enabling them to give the best milk-yield of which they are capable. The rearing of heifer calves also can still be largely improved upon. Stock Diseases. The Dominion still remains free from the more serious diseases, such as rinderpest, foot-and-mouth disease, pleuro-pneumonia, glanders, anthrax, swine-fever, &c. A very careful watch is kept as regards the possibility of disease gaining entry into New Zealand, and the importance of maintaining our restrictions on the entry of stock from countries (including the United Kingdom) where outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease in particular occur cannot be too strongly emphasized. Blackleg. —The position as regards this disease continues to be satisfactory, and no cases have been discovered outside the known areas. The inocidation of calves has been continued in the Taranaki District, and has also been carried out on farms in the Auckland District where the presence of the disease has been confirmed, or where there were reasonable grounds for suspecting that blackleg existed. The number of calves inoculated for blackleg in the Taranaki area was 29,261, which number shows a decrease of 16,179 on the previous year's figures. Contagious Mammitis. —This disease affecting cows has again been prevalent, more especially in the North Island, and, owing to the prominence given to alleged curative remedies and to certain vaccines prepared in the Dominion reported to have prophylactic properties, it has received much more attention at the hands of the dairy-farmer than hitherto. With regard to curative remedies, farmers should exercise great caution before accepting all statements of the wonderful results of these so-called cures. Two vaccines prepared in the Dominion and said to possess prophylactic value came into prominence during the year, and it was arranged that they be given exhaustive tests by the Department at the Veterinary Laboratory and in the field, with a view to ascertaining their value. These experiments will naturally take some time, and results cannot be ascertained at once, but at the same time farmers will be well advised not to expend money on these vaccines until such time as an authoritative statement can be made. Very great risk is taken in accepting unofficial statements regarding such vaccines, the use of which may bring about a condition of false security to the user and render him liable to neglect ordinary preventive measures. During the year 1,613 specimens— more than double those of last year—were received at the Veterinary Laboratory for examination for contagious mammitis. Of these, 648, equal to 40-2 per cent., were found to be from cases of contagious mammitis; 266, or 16-4 per cent., not definitely of the contagious form; and the remainder, 699, were normal. Tuberculosis. —The number of cattle condemned during the year by Stock Inspectors on clinical examination in the field was 4,881, the Inspectors being thorough and active in their work. The distribution of the condemned stock was as follows : Auckland District, 3,021 ; Wellington, 1,242 ; Canterbury-West Coast, 408 ; Otago-Southland, 210. During the year considerable use was made of tuberculin for diagnostic purposes, and this is a very encouraging sign, as it has been recognized for many years as the most valuable and reliable agent for detecting tubercular animals which do not show definite clinical symptoms. It is being largely used in connection with cows supplying milk for human consumption, and every encouragement is given by the Department to extend it and make its use available to every owner by carrying out the test free of cost. In the results of the examination of carcases on slaughter at freezing-works and abattoirs the percentage of tubercular animals shows a slight decrease. The number of cattle (excluding calves) examined was 397,432, of which 21,527, or 5-41 per cent., were found to be affected in varying degrees, a considerable number only very slightly. The position of the Dominion as a whole in respect'of bovine tuberculosis seems to show some improvement when all collateral circumstances are taken into consideration. Generally speaking, it is most prevalent in low-lying wet or swampy areas, particularly in the Auckland Province. Drainage and better farming methods, combined with careful inspection and the observance of all possible preventive measures, will, it is hoped, bring about improvements as time goes on. As regards swine tuberculosis the position remains about the same as last year. Actinomycosis. —The number of cattle condemned for this disease throughout the Dominion was 851, the condemnations being distributed as follows : Otago-Southland, 79 ; Canterbury-West Coast, 105 ; Wellington, 287 ; Auckland, 380. Actinomycosis in its earlier stages is amenable to potassiumiodide treatment, and a supply of this drug put up in tabloid form in a suitable strength was obtained during the year, and is available for sale at cost price. In lieu of condemnation, suitable cases are advised to be put under this treatment, and numerous cases have as a result recovered.