TUBERCULOSIS IN CATTLE

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27192, 9 November 1953, Page 6

TUBERCULOSIS IN CATTLE

BREEDERS’ VIEWS ON TESTING STATEMENTS AT JERSEY SROW The attitude of Canterbury Jersey cattle breeders toward the testing of herds for tuberculosis should not be misinterpreted, said the Dominion president of the Jersey Cattle Breeders’ Association (Mr L. H. “Higgins, of Nelson) when speaking at the prizegiving ceremony at the special show held by Canterbury Jersey breeders at Christchurch on Saturday. “It is upfortunate that the intentions of the Jersey breeders have been misinterpreted through holding a show of their own instead of showing at Christchurch next week,” Mr Higgins said. “The New Zealand Jersey Cattle Breeders’ Association is 100 per cent, in favour of universal testing for tuberculosis, and we will strive to bring that about. We hope that will not be long.” To show at the Canterbury show next week would not do an atom of good, as the testing of show stock only would not assist with the eradication of tuberculosis, said Mr Higgins. Under the present system, in which some agricultural and pastoral associations had made the testing of show stock compulsory, the tested cattle had no guard against reinfection from untested herds. “I hope it is clearly understood that we want universal testing carried out on a fair basis to all breeders,” he said. “This show has set an example to other breeders on how to take a stand if need be. I have been to many shows of cattle, and I cannot recall having seen larger classes of good-quality cattle. The Canterbury Jersey cattle breeders shpuld be pleased with what . they have achieved.”

Testing in Nelson All cattle breeders in the Nelson province were willing to test for tuberculosis, and applied to the Government, through their dairy company, to have the Nelson province declared a tuberculosis-free district, said Mr Higgins. This request, made 12 months ago, had not be granted. Cattle breeders had been encouraged on the advice of veterinary surgeons to make the application, for it was recognised that the Government would have had few responsibilities, as the incidence of tuberculosis indicated that compensation would have been only a small amount.

The Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association could have catered for all breeders by installing separate drinking troughs for tested and untested cattle, said the judge of the show (Mr V. McD. Hitchings, of Otorohanga). As drinking troughs were the only medium for tuberculosis infection at shows, the installation of separate troughs would have been a satisfactory means of catering for. all breeders. All herds supplying Hamilton with milk were forced to test, but the Waikato Agricultural and Pastoral Association had catered for all breeders by installing separate drinking troughs at its show last week. Mr Hitchings said that the scheme for tuberculosis testing could not be carried out until more veterinary surgeons were available. “No Apologies for Show” “The executive of the Canterbury Jersey cattle breeders makes no apologies for staging the Jersey cattle show, because it is merely implementing the directive given by the postal ballot held to ascertain the opinion held by Jersey cattle club members in Canterbury on imposition of compulsory tuberculosis testing of show cattle by certain agricultural and pastoral associations,” said the secretary of the show (Mr W. J. Beckett). “The spasmodic testing of individual herds scattered over the province without checking the intervening areas of . possible infection is no incentive or encouragement to any breeder to have his herd tested for tuberculosis because, disregarding the compensation issue, there are no steps being taken to minimise the risk of reinfection. Only tuberculosis testing on a universal scale in a defined area can cut down risk of reinfection to a minimum.

“Breeders, generally, would welcome tuberculosis testing on a universal basis as a progressive step, but in its present form of application, tuberculosis testing of cattle can only accomplish one thing, that is, the continual drain of good cattle that the breeder .ana the nation can ill afford. Tuberculosis testing universal or tuberculosis testing optional, that is our view,” said Mr Beckett.