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The effect of this excellent result on culling is already evident. One farmer who, over the previous three years, culled 100 cows for mastitis, this year lost none. It is suggested that a lessened demand in Taranaki this year from the Waikato for yearlings is due to reduced culling in the Waikato herds. This trend may become more apparent. Contagious Abortion.—Vaccination of heifers against this disease has been carried out again this year. In the Wellington district field officers vaccinated about 31,000 calves during the year. Applications for the vaccination of 67,643 calves have been made in the Auckland district. A very heavy programme of vaccination work has been carried out by field officers in all parts of Auckland Province. Even in Canterbury, 6,173 calves were vaccinated. The use of the vaccine in herds in Otago and Southland is increasing. Temporary Sterility. —Some field officers describe this trouble in dairy herds as delayed conception or temporary infertility. In many field investigations there is little of a pathological nature to account for the cows returning in heat, and a careful examination has been made for trichomoniasis. It is significant that from one district reports show less trouble this year, probably because of an abundance of green feed throughout the season, whereas from another district the trouble was more prevalent, coinciding with a particularly dry season in which pasture growth was more or less dormant. Grass Staggers.—The incidence of this disease in dairy herds was low last spring, the season being favourable in all respects. On the west coast of the South Island this trouble occurred in a more serious form than in normal years. After a mild winter, grass growth was rapid and farmers did not continue feeding out hay. Veterinary assistance was provided in dealing with the disease. Milk-fever. —Because of a good grass season after a mild winter, few cases of milk-fever were seen in the early spring. The incidence increased in some of the latercalving cows. This disease responds well to modern treatment. Mortalities from Poisoning.—All mortalities in stock are investigated by field officers. During the year mortalities occurred from a number of causes. In the Lumsden district a number of cattle died after access to fescue-seed cleanings from a seed-dressing plant. Another large mortality was investigated on the west coast of the South Island, where the deaths were attributed to fern poisoning. Poisoning outbreaks caused by arsenic and lead have been confirmed in several districts. A number of pigs were poisoned after access to rabbit carcasses poisoned by phosphorus. Parasitic Disease of Young Cattle.—Parasite trouble in young calves was prevalent on the west coast of the South Island. Although it is rather well controlled by the use of phenothiazine worm medicine, parasitic trouble requires to be carefully watched by all farmers. SHEEP Climatic conditions were very good and pasture growth in most districts excellent. Sheep flocks wintered well in one of the mildest winters on record. Lambing percentages were high, ewe flocks being flushed at tupping-time. Seasonal conditions favoured good birth weight in lambs, and the climate in the spring was in every way favourable. It is generally expected that the average weight of fat lambs killed will be slightly heavier than that recorded the previous year. In a few districts, however, because of markedly dry conditions, lambs were sent forward to the works in an unfinished condition, lambs being light and consequently grading out a bigger percentage of seconds than normally. The North Otago district was very seriously affected in this way during the summer.

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