TESTING OF HERDS

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30085, 20 March 1963, Page 6

TESTING OF HERDS

Programme For 1963 (N.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON, Mar. 19. Initial- tuberculosis testing of factory supply herds in 37 countries had begun under the 1963 programme, the Minister of Agriculture (Mr Tallboys) announced. He said £625,000 would be spent retesting herds already under test and in initial testing of a further 200,000 cattle. More than one and a quarter million cattle were already being tested. On completion of this year’s programme about half the dairy cattle in New Zealand should be under T.B. test Mr Taiboys said that in the South Island “mopping up” operations were nearly completed in Southland, Otago, Canterbury, Marlborough and Nelson. Very good progress was being madem Wairarapa. Mr Taiboys said response from farmers had been exceptional since the present scheme was introduced in September, 1961. He said, that all dairy cattle supplying milk■ for sale for human consumption were now under T.B. test.

Ninety per cent, of the herds were completely free of reactors at their last test. In the North Island the incidence of reactors had been reduced from 14.8 per cent, to 1.9 per cent, by repetitive testing and slaughter of reactors. . The South Island incidence had been cut from 1.9 per cent to 0.3 per cent. Testing of town milk supply herds would continue to clear up the remaining infected herds and ensure that clear herds did not become reinfected.