Ashburton Veterinarian For Sydney University

Press, Volume C, Issue 29520, 23 May 1961, Page 14

Ashburton Veterinarian For Sydney University

Mr Kevin G. Haughey. senior veterinarian of the Ashburton Veterinary Club, is to take a posit at Sydney University. He will be senior lecturer in veterinary medicine in beef cattle and sheep, a new appointment in the university's veterinary college, where be will work under another New Zealander, Professor David McFarlane. professor of veterinary medicine, who was formerly on the staff of the Wal.'aceville Animal Research Station and the Gisborne Veterinary Club

Mr Haughey will take up his new post later in the year Born in Christchurch in 1924. Mr Haughey was educated at St Patrick's College Timaru. and St. Bede's College. He went to Canterbury University College in 1944 and for the next four years was at the veterinary college at Sydney. where he graduated bachelor of veterinary science in 1948

On his return to New Zealand he spent almost two years as a veterinarian in the Bush and Southern Hawke’s Bay Veterinary Club, operating in a dairy farming district including Pahiatua Woodville. Dannevirke. and El-etahuna. When the Ashburton Veterinary Club was formed he went to Mid-Canterbun-at the end of 1950 to be the club's first veterinarian He has remained with it ever since. At first he was the only veterinarian in the club and membership was about 300. Today the club has four veterinarians and a of more than 900 Research by Clnb During Mr period with the club it has been associated with the firs’ diagnosis in New Zealand of Itch mite, a scraoie. hvperkeratosis, a disease associated with the digestion of som* t : mber preservatives, and of E eoli septicaemia, a condition similar to pulpv kidnev which may be an impor’an’ source of wastage in the .•heep industry The club also made ar. original observation of growth responses-to the trace element, selenium.

in 1958 Its observation was! made independently but con-i currently with those made bj ! workers at Canterbury Agri-1 cultural College. Work has! continued with selenium, the! club measuring the effect of its use on fertility and wool growth.

In 1953-54 the club also carried out a ewe and lamb mortality survey and in 1957 and 1958 it undertook a ram

tupping survey, which indicated that fewer rams ’ould probably be run with ewes without any harm.

Mr Haughey's work tn Sydney will involve teaching and research. The research will involve a co-ordinated study of some of the breeding, feeding. management, and disease control problems affecting meat and W’ool production.