EXPANSION IN STAFF

Press, Issue 32333, 26 June 1970, Page 9

EXPANSION IN STAFF

An expansion of the staff of the Animal Health Division of the Department of Agriculture is at present In progress over the country. The livestock superintendent of the department in Christchurch, Mr M. C. Armstrong, said this week that more personnel were being taken on by the division who were being trained specially for tuberculosis and brucellosis testing, as it was envisaged that a quite expanded staff would be required to undertake the compulsory testing of all beef cattle for tuberculosis in the very near future and also for the gradual extension of the voluntary testing scheme for brucellosis, which had been started in Taranaki. Mr L. P. Wells, senior livestock instructor of the department in Christchurch, said that three assistant livestock instructors for Christchurch, two for Nelson and one for Timaru were at present at an induction disease training course at Flock House. Most of these were holders of the diploma of agriculture. Recently, four assistant instructors had been sent from Christchurch to help with the brucellosis control scheme in Taranaki, he said. Mr Wells said that they were at present concentrating on compulsory tuberculosis testing in the Buller area and were also in the process of collecting information preparatory to the introduction nf compul sory testing of beef cattle—locating herds and farmers with stock that would have to be tested.

Mr Armstrong said that the staff of the division was also being expanded in other directions too. The veterinary staff was being increased because of the additional attention being given to veterinary investigational and advisory work. Mr S. R. H. Smith who was a general veterinary advisory officer in the Christchurch office, was keeping in close contact with local veterinary clubs and private veterinary surgeons and the animal health laboratory at Lincoln —this is the former veterinary diagnostic station, which like others in the country, now comes within the control of the division under Mr E. H. Shortridge as superintendent of veterinary investigation services.

Mr Smiths role was to investigate animal health problems that required time consuming and detailed investigation that could not be economically and effectively done by people in private veterinary practices

Dr R. T. Hodges from Britain had also joined the department in Christchurch as a veterinary advisory officer (pig diseases). Dr Hodges, who had specialised in pig diseases and also leukosis and Marek's disease in poultry, would be concentrating on health and disease factors in pigs, possibly in any part of the South Island. A similar pig specialist, Mr J. R. Buddle, will also be stationed in Palmerston North. Mr Armstrong said that Christchurch district was now one of the most important pig raising districts in New Zealand, and also in a reference to the appointments the Minister

of Agriculture, Mr Carter, said that while pig numbers had declined steadily for about five years there had! been an 8 per cent increase! between July of last year and January this year, and while numbers were still below what they had been three years ago, there! was every indication that ; the downward trend had been reversed. The appointments, the Minister said, were evidence! of the Government's confidence in the future of the pig industry. The division had also taken over the investigation and control of poultry diseases, said Mr Armstrong, and was in the process of training veterinarians for this work with a course being held in Palmerston North next month.

Mr Armstrong said that the division was also building up its field veterinary staff because of the increased calls on the department for examination of imported animals, and also the rapidly expanding calls for the testing and certification of animals for export and in particular the increasing flow of cattle! from New Zealand to Australia. especially Friesian! and Charolais cross cattle! and cattle in calf to Charolais blood. On the pest control aspect of the department's activities, Mr Wells said this week that two amalgamations of pest destruction boards were at present! under action in the Marlborough area and discussions had been held with boards in North Canterbury and also South Canterbury on the subject of amalgamation.