VETERINARY WORK AT RANGIORA

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27065, 13 June 1953, Page 5

VETERINARY WORK AT RANGIORA

INCREASING DEMAND FOR SERVICES TREATMENT OF STOCK AILMENTS OUTLINED Since its establishment five years ago, the North Canterbury Farmers’ Veterinary Club has grown from a local organisation employing the services of one veterinary surgeon, to its present strength of two surgeons, with sufficient work to justify the employment of a third veterinarian. The present staff attend stock as far north as Hanmer and Claverley, and they travel to all districts south to the Waimakariri. The first veterinarian to the club attended from 120 to 130 calls in his first month. Today the calls total as many as 300 a month, and it is expected that this number will be exceeded, as the club at present services only a third of the farmers in the district. Since World War II greater production has been brought about by scientific farming, and the increased use of fertilisers; the stock population has grown, and there has been a parallel increase in the need for veterinary advice and aid. An outline of the problems at present being dealt with in North Canterbury has been given by the two veterinarians of the North Canterbury Club (Messrs J. Jebson and T. Cook). From their comments on the various diseases in the district it is apparent that veterinary services are necessary in an endeavour to control and eradicate stock diseases, but the co-opera-tion of farmers is equally important. Infertility in cattle is a serious problem in the district. Some of it is due to brucellosis (contagious abortion) in herds where vaccination procedures have not been carried out, and in other herds Vibrio. fetus infection appears to be the main cause of the trouble. Extensive use has been made of the diagnostic service at the Wallaceville Research Station to determine the causes of the trouble .in various herds. Where brucellosis has been diagnosed, vaccination of the stock is an effective remedial measure. Difficult Problem Brucellosis is only one feature of the disease, arid the difficulty of getting the cows in calf is just as important. Unfortunately, the type of infection causing infertility in a herd cannot be determined except by laboratory methods, and at times some difficulty occurs in obtaining a definite answer, except when brucellosis is present. The high incidence of foot abscess and footrot this season - has • caused considerable work and worry to farmers. It has been largely attributable to the wet weather which prevailed continuously during the spring and summer months. Footrot can be distinguished from foot abscess, as it under-runs the horn of the foot, separating it from the soft tissues underneath, and has a strpng smell, whereas foot abscess is more in the nature of a boil. Foot abscess usually starts on the inside of the heel, and there is marked swelling and inflammation above the hoof, and pus . forms in the affected area.

It has been important to differentiate between the foot abscess and footrot. for footrot is highly infectious and requires constant attention to control and eradicate. Although foot abscess has been responsible for a large amount of lameness in, some flocks, treatment of individual sheep affected has been satisfactory. Very little can be done to prevent foot abscess from occurring, other than running sheep on dry pastures or hardening their feet in formalin or bluestone baths each week. The wet season was also responsible for the slow growth and fattening of lambs. On properties where losses were serious, parasitism was found to be the main problem, and on some properties there was evidence that a gut infection known as coccidiosis was present, but the main problem had been one of parasitism, even in those flocks.

Pulpy Kidney Many farmers appeared loth to vaccinate their sheep through overestimating the difficulty of doing so, said Mr Jebson. Pulpy kidney caused considerable 8 losses in lambs early in the year, and to prevent a recurrence of these losses in the coming season, vaccination should be considered. A demonstration of vaccination and other methods of treating stock was being arranged in the Waikari-Hawarden area for farmers early in July, and any doubts on how to perform the task should be overcome, he said. In common with all other parts of the country, the demand for veterinary services in the district has been increasing since the inception of the veterinary club movement. The executive of the North Canterbury Club is now finding it necessary to consider the appointment •of another veterinarian m the northern area of the district to meet the present demand for veterinary services and allow an expansion of the work by increasing the membership of the club without limiting the availability of the present services. It is considered, however, that the early appointment of a third veterinarian will depend largely on the interest of farmers in the northern area who can best help by increasing the membership of the club. AMURI FEDERATED FARMERS The following officers have been elected by the Amuri branch of Federated Farmers:—president, Mr A. C. B. Robinson; vice-presidents, Messrs R. E. Hiatt and A. W. B. McMillan; secretary, Mr A. A. Munro; auditor, Mr G. S. Maister; committee. Messrs G. B. Gould. J. L. Rutherford, H. A. Beaven, G. Crossley, D. B. Stevenson, H. R. Davison. G. L. Johns, H. J. Davison, H. Bowson, W. P. Belton, L. W. Savage, G. O. Burbury, and A. J. Sunckell; delegates to annual conference. Messrs Robinson, P. J. Bunbury, ana McMillan; delegate to provincial conference, Mr Robinson: meat and wool section. Messrs J. L. Macfarlane, Hiatt, and A. A. Macfarlane; agriculture section, Messrs C. G. Gardner, A. G. Wilson, and L. W. Savage.