FARM NOTES

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 70, 4 October 1939, Page 7

FARM NOTES

T.B. IN HERDS

TESTING SCHEMES DIFFICULT

MEETING THE PROBLEM

Difficulties which faced the Government in undertaking comprehensive schemes for testing dairy herds in New Zealand tfbr tuberculosis were outlined by the Minister of Hon W. Lee Martin, in an interview. The Minister sai'd that at the present time it did not appear practicable to introduce a Dominionwide scheme for many reasons, but that if some plan could be devised in which the cost could be spr.ea'd equitably over the whole industry and taxpayers the Government Avonld be desirous of initiating such a scheme. He added that in the meantime the Department of Agriculture was prejjare'd to co-operate with any group of farmers in establishing accredited herds and areas, and that he was also considering the possibility of? establishing two experimental areas where the full costs of eradication and the probable effect on the economic position of the industry might be studied. "Considerable attention has been centred for some time on a suggestion that determined efforts should be made to eradicate bovine tuberculosis from the dairy herds in the Dominion, and many resolutions along these lines have been passed by farmers' organisations" said the Minister, who added that some clarification of the position appeared necc sary.

Three Schemes Suggested'

Three alternative schemes had been suggested: (1) The complete coverage ofl sub-erculin-testing of all dairy cattle in the Dominion . (2) Tuberculin testing of all herds supplying milk for local consumpand (3) A co-opcrative accredited herd scheme. It was suggested that the first scheme could be completed ■within three years, and that afterwards n state of comparative f ce:lom could be maintained by adequate veterinary service. The partial scheme covering cows used for liquid milk supply was thought in some circles to be sufficient to safeguard the. local position, and also to form a basis tor a gradual extension into all herds concerned in the export trade"The co-operative accredited herd schema would depend for its success on the voluntary efforts of dairy farmers," said the Minister. Burden on Consolidated Fund. "It is estimated that scheme No. 1 would cost in the vicinity of £2.300000 in the first three years, and would entail thereafter an annual administrative expense o3 approximated £150,000. Scheme No. 2 would cost in the vicinity of for thc\ first year, and £25,000 to £30,000 a year thereafter. "If Schcme No. 1 were put into operation, the replacement of the reacting stock might well result in insuiffkient healthy animals being available to maintain the Dominion'.; herds at their present level other than through the retention of cows which otherwise would have been culled,. The probable effect of this factor on total production cannot be estimated, and it might well result in considerable reduction for a few years. " "Under scheme No. 2 anxl No. 3 there is not the same objection either in regard to cost or their passible effect on the Dominion's production. Inequality of Incidence. "It is estimated that the average incidence of tuberculosis in dairy cows in the Dominion, is in the vicinity of six to eight per cent" continued the Minister. "It has been shown in certain instances, however, that the number of reactors may reach a considerably higher percentage in, individual herds even as high as 50 to 60 per cent being recorded in certain cases. Many of the reactors in such herds would be animals affected with tuberculosis of a localised nature, and -would not at the time of reaction constitute a danger to human health bv means of infection in, the milk.

"It will be appreciated from this statement that certain individual farmers may have such a high incidence of the disease in their herds and be so affected that their livelihood would be materially interfered

with tfor some years if scheme No. 1 were introduced. In such a case serious consideration would require to be given to the establishment of a poor fund, preferably on a co-op-erative basis, to which all producers would subscribe in order to smooth out the unequal effects on individual farmers.

"It will be appreciated that, once a policy in decided upon, the test used must be accepted as a final indicator to determine the retention or destruction of stock, and the Government hesitates ta impose such a procedure on the industry until its full implications are known. "In the meantime the Deaprtment of Agriculture is prepared to co-op-erate with any group ofl farmers for the purpose of establishing accredited herds and areas. I am also giving consideration to the possibility of establishing two experimental nreas where the full costs of eradication and the probable effect on the economic position, of the industry might bt studied. This cannot be done during the current financial year, but, if practicable, such experimental areas will be set up in 1940.^