STOCK WASTAGE

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 96, 18 January 1938, Page 8

STOCK WASTAGE

Losses By Disease EFFORTS AT PREVENTION The wastage of farm stock through disease in New Zealand was referred to by the Minister of Agriculture, Hon. W. Lee Martin, when introducing Dr. John Hammond, F.R.S., of Cambridge, England, a noted animal physiologist, to an audience of farmers in Hamilton. Mr. Lee Martin said the greatest problem ahead of the dairy-farmer was to reduce his costs of production, and one way in which that could be done would be to reduce stock losses through disease. The Government fully realised the importance of checking the vitally serious leakage caused by animal disease and it Intended to use every possible means by which the position might be Improved. More than one-fifth of the country s total number of cows were removed from the herds each year, and more than one-third of the bulls were slaughtered, continued the Minister. This wastage represented the greatest economic leakage suffered by the dairyfarmer, and equalled millions of pounds annually. Culling through temporary sterility alone cost the country at least. £1,200,000. Dr. C. J. Hucker, a noted American bacteriologist, was now in New Zealand investigating the incidence of mastitis, and as the result of his visit the Government was on the eve of formulating a real forward movement, having for its objective the lessening of losses that were yearly being experienced. It was felt that by testing, treatment, shed mtnagement and efficient breeding the position could be vastly improved. An extensive investigation from widely-differing angles would have to be carried out, and it was for this reason thpt the Government _ had invited Dr. Hammond to advise as to just what kind of reorganisation should be set up and what- methods should be adopted. Dr. Hammond, in an illustrated lantern lecture, described stock wastage in England and the methods used to combat it. He said lie doubted if New Zealand had as many cattle diseases as England had.