Brucellosis Scheme ‘Not Possible’

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31135, 11 August 1966, Page 3

Brucellosis Scheme ‘Not Possible’

(From Our Own Reporter) WELLINGTON, August 10. It was not economically possible at this stage to adopt a compulsory national scheme for eradication of brucellosis, the Minister of Agriculture (Mr Taiboys) told the Town Milk Producers’ Federation today.

It had. however, been de-1 cided that a scheme for uni-' versa! vaccination of both | dairy and beef calves should [ be introduced, said the Minister. A national effort to control the disease would have to be directed, in the initial stages, to vaccination in conjunction with any voluntary schemes which would allow farmers to; control the disease in a man-; ner suitable to their circumstances, he said. The president of the federation (Mr E. N. Peacocke) I said later that the federation; was perturbed at the some-; what cavalier treatment ac-l corded by the Government to sections of the town milk industry. which had taken practical and expensive steps to eliminate brucellosis from! herds. The town milk supply farmI ers in Canterbury and other i South Island districts who had. at their’ own considerable expense, practically eliminated the disease, had been disappointed to learn from the Minister that the Government was not prepared to offer any form of compensation for cattle destroyed. i A widely canvassed and [ well supported ‘ proposal for | a premium for brucellosisi free milk had been turned [down by the Government, he 1 said. Town milk producers in certain districts were prepared to submit their herds to a full test and slaughter campaign if they were properlv compensated. This could provide a pilot I programme for a future all-

out brucellosis eradication scheme for the whole dairy industry. “1 realise that brucellosis eradication is a big undertaking, but I think we have got to realise that a part of the industry has shown the way,” Mr Peacocke said.