FOOTROT IN SHEEP

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27591, 23 February 1955, Page 7

FOOTROT IN SHEEP

Sir,—Replying to a question by your correspondent, “Formalities,” a livestock instructor of the Department of Agriculture is reported as saying that fbotrot is not a disease under the Stock Act In this I think he must be in error, as at one time I conducted a single-handed campaign for a full four years to have something done about footrot in sheep, which not only causes immense economic loss, but is easily the most widespread and painful disease from which our domestic animals suffer. Finally, the Minister of Agriculture, then Mr Lee Martin, showed me in his Wellington office the draft of a proposed amendment to the Stock Act, making footrot a scheduled disease. Although I approved of this as a first step towards total eradication, the act has been allowed to become a dead letter; but it is still an offence to expose lame sheep, if untreated, for sale.—Yours, etc.,

S. P. BRAY. Fairlie, February 17. 1955.

[“Footrot is not a disease scheduled under the Stock Act, but stock are not permitted to be exposed for sale or exhibition if their general condition or health is such as to render them unfit to be in any place for such purpose,” said Mr A. C. Howse, veterinarian of the Department of Agriculture at Christchurch, when this letter was referred to him.]