STOCK DISEASES

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 142, 12 March 1938, Page 7 (Supplement)

STOCK DISEASES

False Impression Created

DOMINION VERY HEALTHY A man who knows very thoroughly the extent of disease in New Zealand stock has protested to me at the over-publicity recently given to stock diseases in this country. “New Zealand stock on the average are the healthiest in the world,” he said. "To further eliminate stock losses arising from disease is a worthy objective, but to-day the position is being over-emphasised. What stock losses can here be truly laid to disease? Most of our losses arise from malnutrition, a very different cause. “At the Wallaceville rally a fortnight ago it was stated that disease caused a loss to New Zealand farmers of £5,000,000 yearly. How was that sum arrived at? The figure looks suspiciously ‘round. “If a man kills himself by over-eating and so causing bodily complications which induce disease, the disease may be said to have killed him, but we know that his over-indulgence wms the real cause,, So, too, with stock. It they are not properly fed they become disease stricken. But surely we should recognise the real trouble. , . ~l il . ~ “In this Dominion there is little m the way of active, aggressive disease —that is disease attacking healthy animals.” With those sentiments I am in hearty agreement. Less thought on disease and more on animal nutrition especially and animal husbandry generally would be to the good of our farming. Furthermore, too much emphasis will do harm to our reputation abroad.