TICK IN THE NORTH.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIX, Issue 127, 29 May 1918, Page 6

TICK IN THE NORTH.

EXPERT ADVICE. NOT THE QUEENSLAND TICK. The question of the tick in the North was the subject of an address by Dr. C. J. Reakee, Director o£ the Live Stock Division of the Department of Agriculture, at the Farmers' Union conference this morning. Dr. Jieakee said that the ticks in the North were not of the same variety as in Queensland. The tick itself could not cause tick fever. It was a germ in the blood that caused it, and ticks acted as carriers of this germ from animal to animal. The tick fever, however, was not in New Zealand, and every precaution was being taken to keep it out. In this way cattle were being prohibited from coming into the Dominion! from Queensland, U.S.A., and South Africa. Careful investigation had been made by the Department in respect to the nature of the tick. They had been placed on heaithy cattle, with no result, inquiry had failed to show any sickness or trouble caused so far by New Zealand ticks. The ill-etfects of ticks quite apart from any specific disease, included loss of condition in the cattle if badly infested, decrease in milk yield of cowa, and damage to hides. A badly infested hide would depreciate in value from id to 2£d per lfo. He suggested that farmer* should be given special advice on the methods of coping with tkrke, and that an officer of his Department should be stationed at Kaitaia. A good plan would be, he eaid, for farmers to establish dips at centres in the worst infected areas for dealing with cattle which were not quiet enough for spraying. He further advocated the inspection at points of embarkation and disembarkation o! sea-borne cattio, an.! at Whangarei railhead and Heleuisvillo, all cattle coming South, and the compulsory inspection at Westfieid of all cattle panting South, and dipping of all fuund ticky. Several speakers referred to the filthy condition of cattle trucks, and suggested that they should fee cleansed from time to time. After further diecuseion, two remits from Pongakawa and Albany were carried providing for the Executive to tafce all the necessary precautions to be taken to prevent the spreading of cattle tick.