Scrapie threat

Press, 31 July 1978, Page 16

Scrapie threat

Sir, —I was amazed to read some of the statements by Dr G. H. Adlam (“The Press,” July 28) when he accuses Mr C. A. Martin, secretary of the New Zealand Romney Sheep Breeders’ Association, of panic statements, and goes on to say that “plenty of other countries have it (scrapie) and raise sheep successfully and profitably.” What Dr Adlam does not say is that other countries also follow a strict slaughter and quarantine policy where outbreaks occur, and it is this aspect which arouses the utmost concern among farmers and especially stud breeders, who can visualise slaughter of a valuable stud built up over several generations, or quarantine of some of the areas where stud sheep are heavily concentrated. The measures taken near Rakaia in the 1950 s leave breeders in no doubt that had these sheep been privately imported they would have been underground by now. Complacent statements from people in safe Government jobs do not reassure breeders. — Yours, etc., JOHN A. BROWN. Chairman, Mid-Canterbury Stud Romney Breeders* Club. July 28, 1978.