AVIAN TEST FOR CATTLE

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27473, 6 October 1954, Page 6

AVIAN TEST FOR CATTLE

N.Z. Requirement Criticised | VALUE QUESTIONED BY | SCOTTISH FARMER (New Zealand Press Association) I INVERCARGILL, October 5. I Cattle bought in Britain for export to New Zealand must pass, among other tests, what is known as the avian test. If they fail to pass this test, cannot be brought into the Dominion. Doubt whether this test was either reasonable or necessary has been raised by a Scottish farmer, Mr C. MacKenzie, who is visiting New Zealand. ‘‘Other countries, including Canada and Argentina, do not require that pedigree cattle imported from Britain should pass the avian test, which is part of the tuberculin test, and I do not know why New Zealand should insist on this test,” Mr MacKenzie said. “I think we have as good veterinary surgeons in Britain as you have in New Zealand, and they say the avian test is of no importance. But New Zealand continues to insist on it nd ’ as a result, good cattle rejected by New Zealand have gone to other countries. Mr MacKenzie suggested that the aVian test was uncertain. An animal might pass it now and fail three months later, and then pass it again in another three months. Cattle bought in Britain for export to New Zealand were sold subject to passing the various tests. Some of the cattle that had failed to pass the avian a^ r th® sa le might have passed it if they had been subjected to the test before the sale. ‘‘l do not know why New Zealand insists on the avian test, but I am making further inquiries before I leave,” Mr MacKenzie said.