Health conditions

Press, 19 September 1977, Page 27

Health conditions

Staff reporter Wellington Extra animal-health conditions are being imposed on horses from Australia following the discovery’ of contagious metritis in a mare on ar. Australian stud farm. These conditions should minimise the risk of the disease being introduced on to New Zealand stud farms, according to the DirectorGeneral of Agriculture (Mr M. L. Cameron). In future, horses may only be imported under

They must also be accompanied by an Australian Government veterinarian’s certificate indicating that they are free from the disease and have not had contact with any infested animal or premises. Breeding animals must have been swabbed and found negative during a 14day isolation period prior to shipment.

Mr Cameron said these conditions were similar to those required for horses from Britain following the discovery of contagious metritis there earlier this year.

A decision to suspend, temporarily, the issuing of permits for the importation of horses from Britain and Ireland had been made in August by Australia and New Zealand, pending receipt of more specific information on the character of the disease. Now that the disease had been identified in Australia, the temporary suspension on the importation of horses from Britain and Ireland' would be reviewed by animal health authorities in New Zealand and Australia, he said.