STOCK DISEASES

Dominion, Volume 15, Issue 233, 28 June 1922, Page 7

STOCK DISEASES

CATTLE TICK & ANTHRAX FARM PROSPECTS IN BAY OF PLENTY The Director-General of Agriculture (Dr. C. J. Reakes) has returned from a visit to the Gisborne and Bay of Plenty districts, where various Departmental matters were gone into by him, and, in conjunction with the local officers of the Department, some meetings held with farmers. Discussing his tour with a Dominion reporter yesterday, Dr. Reakes said that in February extended regulations, framed for the purpose of controlling the spread of cattle tick, came into force, and, as is often the case in new measures of this kind, local difficulties had arisen here, and there in connection with the working of them. These difficulties were discussed with the settlers in the districts concerned, and at all of them an excellent spirit of co-operation between, the farmers and the Department was shown on the point of endeavouring to combat the spread of ticks on reasonable, practical. and effective lines, and there is no doubt that adjustments can be made where necessary 'which will be satisfactory all round. Low Values. “In the Bay of Plenty, where beef production is an important feature of farming operations, producers are seriously hit bv the extremely low values ruling for fat and store cattle,” said the Director, “and what would otherwise have been an excellent season for them has been consequently spoiled from a monetary point of view. It is most sincerely to be hoped that the conditions which have been responsible for this slump in beef prices will soon disappear, and the market swing back to reasonable values. The favourable weather and good growth of feed right into the early winter have been of great value to the dairying industry, enabling dairy farmers to receive additional returns which will be welcome to them in this difficult period of reversion to normal conditions, following the war-time and post-war trade disturbances. The dairy cattle are in good condition, and the good supply of feed will enable them to winter well. The pastoral development in the Bav of Plenty during the nast few years has been most marked, particularly as regards the'advance made in dairving in sonic areas, and in this the work done in the Rangitaiki swamp must bo specially noted. A good inspection of th is area was made, , and there is no doubt that while it is already very productive, its output will vet increase to a marked extent. Ono thing was particularly noted, viz., that though m.-inv of the farmers were having a hard time, thev were no* ‘grousing,’ but were facing their trouh’es in a good spirit.” Anthrax. “With regxnt io the unfortunate case < f anthrax in the human subject which has occurred in Christchurch, the Departmental officers, in conjunction with the Health Department, have made close and thorough inquiries. The result is entirely satisfactory so far as the question of infection from any animal source in New Zealand is concerned. There has been no anthrax found among live stock in Now Zealand since 1903. and it is good io know that inquiry made in this case enables us to he satisfied that our freedom from this disease still continues.” Of every 100 applicants for patents in Great Britain nearly twenty are put forward by Gorman inventors.