STERILITY IN COWS

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 263, 2 August 1929, Page 14

STERILITY IN COWS

RESEARCH BY DEPARTMENT OUTLINE OF ACTIVITIES “The Department is actively engaged in research into temporary sterility in cows, and this has been in progress for over four years. The causes of this trouble are obscure, and a variety of lines of research are being followed up, the work being shared by the Wallaceville laboratory staff and selected field oificers working in close co-operation.” The above statement was made by the Minister of Lands (Hon. G. W. Forbes) in the House of Representatives in reply to a question by Mr. C. A. Wilkinson (Egmont). The Minister stated that the special staff engaged were: At Wallacevile laboratory; Mr. C. S. M. Hopkirk, B.V.Sc. (officer in charge) ; Mr. D. A. Gill, M.R.C.V.S., D.V.S.M.; Mr. J. Hill-SJo-tion, M.R.C.V.S., D.V.S.M., B.V.Sc., B. Sc. Ag. (Mr Gill had left for a trip abroad for the purpose of gaining new knowledge, especially with regard to dairy cow disease Mr. Hill-Motion recently arrived in New Zealand after having spent some months at the best laboratories and research institutes in Great Britain and the Continent of Europe, where he paid special attention to dairy cow diseases). In the field, the staff consisted of: Mr. C. V. Dayus, M.R.C.V.S.; Mr. W. M. Webster, M.R.C.V.S., B.Sc., and Mr. 1. A. Blake, M.R.C.V.S. Mr Webster was working in North Taranaki. Mr. Dayus had been in the Waikato for the past four years, and was now on transfer to Otago. Mr. Blake, who had already done a considerable amount of investigation into sterility, succeeded him in the Waikato. Mr. Aston, chief chemist, rendered valuable help. . . “Apart from these special investigating officers,” said the Minister, “the field veterinarians. and stock inspectors ot the Department carry out observational and advisory work and apply experimental methods of treatment, all this furnishin,, information for the laboratory staff. Mr. Hopkirk, who is in charge at Wallaceville is a highly capable man, trained in laboratory investigation work from his early youth. When going through his college course he specialised in bacteriology and pathology. Mr. Gill came to New Zealand as a young man. very highly recommended, and he has fully proved his worth. Mr Hill-Motion has good recommendations and has already shown himself to be a valuable addition to the staff. “By arrangement with the Research Department and Massey College, an extensiou of the work is about to be undertaken by a highly skilled scientist, who, by systematically breeding small animals 'which will give quick reproduction and a quick succession of generation after generation, and feeding them on various diets of known deficiencies, or known unbalanced mineral content, will be able to study the effects of diet upon reproduction. “The research at Wallaceville includes experiments with bulls and cows, and much examination of material from infected herds, sent in by the field officers, who keep affected herds under observation, and pursue inquiries and investigations in various directions. The main lines of research may be summed up as— (1) Whether the trouble is by infection; (2) the analysis of soils and pasture plants, and the influence of soil and pasture conditions, including the use of lime and fertilisers and dietetics generally upon sterility; (3) the physiological conditions associated with heavy and prolonged seasonal milking; (4) the effect of various drugs used for both external and internal treatment. “A further development this season will be the establishment of a field laboratory in a dairying district. “Much of the work necessitates the cooperation of individual farmers, and this is freely obtainable, financial assistance beiug given when necessary. “The Department is not yet able to give farmers positive information as to methods which can be relied upon to prevent temporary sterility, but by means of literature and by direct advice by veterinarians and stock officers, it gives the best advice and assistance possible in the present state of the world’s knowledge of this trouble, and this advice, if carefully lollowed, is of considerable value. "There are a number of proprietary remedies on the market, some sold at high prices, but the Department is unable to state that any ot these are reliable as preventives of temporary sterility. In the case of (1), where particularly misleading information was given, the matter has been taken up with the proprietors. How best to deal with this question of proprietary remedies in those cases where circumstances render it necessary, is having very full consideration.

“Finally, it may be accepted that the officers engaged in the Department’s research and investigation work are well equipped for it, not only as regards their knowledge and skill, but also by their keenness and enthusiasm. The field research officers were selected on account of their special faculty for this class of work.”