CATTLE DISEASES

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 26 June 1928, Page 7

CATTLE DISEASES

! RESEARCH RESULTS. DIE R EAKE’S 00NCJ,US lONS. At the annual conference of the National Dairy Association in Palmerston North, an interesting resume of a trip to Europe and other parts of the world where dairying is in \oguc, was given by Dr. C. J. Rcakes, as well as some conclusions, in the research work he had seen and the tonicreme he had attended, in London, which was specially arranged by the imperial Government. Dr.. Rcakes said the primary object of his recent trip was to attend this iimfcrence. Apart from the work of fhe conference he had gained valuable information by associating with men in '■he forefront in research work in various countries. Dairying did not reciie a great deal of attention, hutlone matter discussed was the function •o' a bureau in England, where all research work could he tabulated and inti rmation obtained. It was, however, considered that the time was not ripe •or that, but it was decided to set up a bureau of animal health, which should pro\e very valuable Dr. Rcakes sail! he had gone carefully into matters affecting research work in connection with diseases that greatly troubled the .industry, namely, contagious abortion, sterility partial or complete abortion, and vaginitis. STERILITY. leri-ity was another disease that ,wi.s obscure and in various countries research was being carried out with a lew* to overcoming it. There- was a diuerenee of opinion as to whether or :K,tdt was due to- the abortion bacillus, tie was able to supply imormation as the result of New Zealand research. In Denmark he hail seen demonstrations of a new method of washing out cows. A E reach expert considered the disease was largely the result of the intensive nature of the industry. Alammitis was very troublesome in New Zealand, where a good deal was unowir about it. He found it also troublesome in England, where it appeared to be getting worse, but very little research was being made in connection with it. Cows, however were t,axen in hand at once and the treatment adopted very often gave .successful results. Analysing the results, Dr. Rcakes said there was no definite data available in Southern Rhodesia, and he assumed that the improvement had synch ronnsed with the use of the vaccine, i he. first year the trial was made in New Zealand, the results were promising. hat last year they were not so g od. The department was still pursuing its investigations. , CONTAGIOUS ABORTION. Dr. Rcakes found in .England, that, as regard contagions abortion, they ( were up against a brick wall. Some years ago the experts thought they had found a method that would overcome the difficulty by the .use of vaccines, whit h for a time gave encouraging result,s. I,at it was soon realised that these did not come up to expectations and they were now where they were some sears ago. He had continued enquiries in Denmark. where, they were making research into tlio question but were still attacking it while knowing little about its control. Due great point had been rear lied. By a blood test it could he ascertained whether the disease was present in a herd or not. The test was used in New Zealand and in enabled farmers to regulate any arrivals and cheek the disease from spreading t.irough the herd. in France Dr. Reakes found the same opinion regarding vaccine; that the. dead vaccine was useless and tho |i, ing was unsatisfactory, the grave objection being that it was liable to convert the animal into a. carrier. In New Zealand vaccine had been studied, but it bad been decided, in view of the risk of carriers and the indefinite nature of reports, that the department lould not advise farmers to use it. In Germany they were making exhaustive enquiries to ascertain whether or not vaccine had done any good. In .South Africa, he had enquired into-, a \ ac.ine used in Southern Rhodesia, with it was reported, favourable results. This had been put under trial in New Zealand. * USE OF VACCINES. Dr. Reakes had made many enquiries regarding the use of vaccines, tiie success of which would be very satisiactory, but -so far none of tho countries had found any satisfactory treatment in that direction and the general opinion was that other methods o treatment would have to be sought. Every possible test that held out hope I must be worked at with the object of hiding out some satisfactory and practi able method, of coping with the diseases. ■ Replying tp a question regarding foot anil mouth disease, Dr. Reakes stated that while lie was in'England I the country had one of the worst out-, breaks ever known. He had gone there intending to procure some stock for New Zealand but in view of the outbreak if. was not advisable to do so until conditions improved and the , question- of removing the restrictions lon the embargo regarding the importa- : tunt of stock was under consideration, they had considerable trouble in England over isolateil outbreaks whose connection with other outbreaks could not be traced. . • Reobing to Mr. Jones (Lowgarth). Dr. Reakes did not think the use ol' fertilisers was likely to induce abortion. He was not sure whether defiiciem ies in the soil, refllected in the pastures, could be conductive to abortion. but it might be conductive to sterility. They would be making investigations into the subject during tin* coming season.