Milk Board’s Request For Undulant Fever Inoculation

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28660, 9 August 1958, Page 12

Milk Board’s Request For Undulant Fever Inoculation

The compulsory vaccination of all dairy herds ifi New Sealand to prevent undulant fever as well as tuberculosis is being sought by the Christchurch Metropolitan Milk - Board.

This is the subject of a remit from the board to the NeW Zealand Milk Authorities’ Association meeting in October. Many town milk suppliers . did not breed their own calves, but bought replacements from herds supplying dairy factories, said Mr G. A. Franks, who moved that all dairy herds be included in a compulsory programme. Minister’s Letter Before the board was a letter from the Minister of Agriculture (Mr Skinner), who said that he intended to intensify his programme in Canterbury for the voluntary vaccination of calves in an effort to prevent the spread of undulant fever. By vaccinating all heifer calves each season, some farmers had obtained a marked reduction m the incidence of undulant fever, and a stage had been reached where complete eradication might be practicable, said the Minister “However, the removal and condemnation of all reactor animals is not a practical proposition when a high incidence exists in a herd,’’ he added. The department had no statu-

tory powers to enforce vaccination for undulant fever, as it had fo: the treatment of tuberculosis, said Mr E. M. Beere, the Department of Agriculture’s representative on the board. “It is unlikely that the Minister will be able to do anything —these things are political,’’ he added. “It should not be political,’’ said Mr E. R. Head. Intensification of the programme of vaccination could well lead to the establishment of a disease-free milk supply for the whole of New Zealand, said the chairman (Mr R. G. Brown). “This dreadful and painful disease can be eradicated,” he said. “It has been, shown m Heathcote that it can be done —although it is slow, and needs patience and perseverance—and if it can be done there it can be done by other town milk suppliers.’’ « •The board will notify the two town producers’ organisations of its action, and ask for their cooperation in the vaccination of ah herds supplying milk m Christchurch.