WILL VACCINE CURE MAMMITIS SCOURGE?

Horowhenua Chronicle, 26 September 1928, Page 7

WILL VACCINE CURE MAMMITIS SCOURGE?

D.F.U. WANTS POSITION CLEARED Some little time ago, a proprietary concern placed upon the market a vaccine as a cure for mamraitis —a scourge which takes heavy toll of cows and butter-fat in New Zealand every’year. With this vaccine the company held out high hopes for the dairy farmer, but on the other hand, officers of the Agricultural Department were not successful with the carried out with, the new cure and told the New Zealand farmer so. Thus a doubt was created in the minds of those who had thought of trying out the vaccine and with the idea of getting’ tbs tM of the matter, it--was decided 'at a recent meeting of the Dairy Farmers' Union held in Palmerston North, to ask the Vaccine Company if it would submit its 4 curo to a test under the auspices of the Union. The Negotiations. On April 7, Mr. K. Ale Murray, district agent of the company, wrote the Dairy Farmers’ Union -as follows:-—-"As it seems unlikely that any agreement can be arriyed 'at with the Agricultural Department in regard to demonstrating the efficiency of our vaccine in dealing with contagious mammitis, my company has given me permission to give such a demonstration under the auspices of the Union. Such a demonstration under practical farm conditions, would probably be of more interest to fanners, as many would be able to watch and see the results of the demonstration. Personally, 1 would have no objection to your inviting officers of the Agricultural Department, Massey College or any other such body, to be present also. Alight I suggest that yor appoint a small committee to discuss details with me ' The secretary of the Dairy Farmers’ Union then wrote direct to the Vaccine Company, asking if Air. Ale Murray had the necessary authority to carry out the demonstrations. Air. E. C. Day, managing-director, replied as follows:— luMr. 1 u Mr. Ale Murray has our full authority." The following conditions were then agreed to at a meeting between the company and representatives of the Dairy Farmers ’ Union. (1) That either the Agricultural Department or Massey College take samples of the herd to be tested. - (2) Samples'be taken from a herd that has not been tested. (3) Samples to be taken from a herd that has been.tested. (4) First sample"to be takeft in Septexn- . bor; second sample after the fourth inoculation; third sample when the ... officer Is of opinion that .the herd . is clean; fourth * sample /In the Autumn; and fifth sample in the following Spring.

The next step by the Dairy Farmers’ Union was the arranging of a conference between its sub-committee, the company’s agent and representatives of the Department. This conference was called for yesterday. Two representatives of the Department (Messrs. W. C. Barry, district superintendent, and C. S. M, Hopkirk, in charge of Wallaceville laboratory) were present, with Messrs. N. Campbell, P. J, Small, and J. Boyce, of the Dairy Farmers’ Union. The company’s agent was not there, but sent the following letter:— ■‘l wish to thank your sub-committee for the invitation to be present on September 25 at which a representative of the Agricultural Department will be present, I appreciate the courtesy very much. 1 should have liked to have met a representative of the Department, and therefore extremely regret that I will not be able to be present on that date. 1 Trill be in Paraparaumu as X am treating several herds there ... It is necessary that the treatment should be carried out regularly. At present my time is fully occupied as I am inoculating over 500 cows per week. If it is necessary, I shall meet your committee on Thursday or Friday night, or if more convenient, on the 28th inst. Pardon me pointing out that you arc not quite accurate in your letter when you state, “the testing of the Hamilton vaccine.’ The’ Hamilton vaccine has been tested out in every conceivable way and has satisfied the greatest authority in the Southern Hemisphere (Dr. Gilruth) and also the heads of the Commonwealth Agricultural Department; also all those professional men in our own country who have taken the trouble to test it out or have investi gated its merits. A very large number of farmers have confused our vaccine with, some others and will not believe there is a difference. AS your Union, failed in its efforts to get the Agricul tural Department to test our vaccine out so as to safeguard farmers, 1 offered to give a demonstration not only to demonstrate the. reliability of our vaccine, but also Mat adverse reports circulated are very far from being accurate. 1 wish to say that this demonstration will be carried out in exactly the same way as I treat herds in the visual course of business, that is, under practical farm conditions.” Fair Trial Promised.. J When the last communication was road to the meeting, it brought from Mr. Small the remark that it looked as if the. company was backing out. Mr. Barry stated that the Department was prepared to carry out the tests suggested. As regards the suggested scheme of treatment and sampling, there was nothing to be gained by taking samples from a herd not vaccinated. ,/,/• Mr, Campbell: Except to show that a herd could improve without, treatment. Mr. Barry: 'We know that already. Some recoveries have been spontaneous after treatment advised by the Department. Mr. Hopkirk said he was prepared to go into the investigations very thoroughly. _l . ‘ Mr. Boyce said he was pleased to hear that it had been said’the Department had net given the company a fair treatment ifi the past. Mr. McMurray, the company ’s agent, should have been at the meeting, or someone else to represent the company. The speaker said, he had used tho' vaccine on his herd, but • then it. might have improved without it. •: Mr. Campbell: That is what we want

up. I am very disappointed that' the company's agout is not here. Mr. Barry asked if the company proposed using its-ordinary stock-vafecine that it dispensed throughout the districtor a special preparation for the occasion. What was needed was 'the ordinary vaccine sold. Mr,-Boyce thought they would have 10 take the company's word that the ordinary preparation was used. Mr. Campbell thought that all that the meeting could do would be to frame conditions and submit them to the company, asking it whether it .proposed to carry on with the investigations or . not. Farmers Awaiting Results. Mr. Boyce: Farmers throughout the district are waiting the results of these trials. Either the company is going to get a great boost or it is going “to get it in the neck." We have done a gieat deal of running about in connection with tliis matter “and we jyaut to get down to tin-tacks." ‘ 1 " Of the Departmental representatives present, Mr. Boyce asked: / Are you piepared to come out into the daylight and say straight out what you think of this vaccine f " Mr. Barry: The Department has already expressed its opinion. Air. Boyce: In a very guarded way. Mr. Hopkirk: My experiments showed that it didn't protect cows im any way .‘Since then I have dotte a number of herds with autogenous vaccine, with no beneficial' results. Air. Barry suggested that if the compspy was dissatisfied with the proposed method of investigating the“ then it could'submit its own ideas on the subject and an arrangement como to. Mr. Hopkirk expressed the opinion that if it could be proved that the vaccine was beneficial in its effect, then it would be a good thing for the ebuntry. Air. Barry: And if we considered the vaccine treatment of maramitis a success, we would be the first to advocate it. You can't expect the Department to circularise all farmers on” what to buy and what not to. Mr. Small: If the Department has found this vaccine of use, why doesn’t it tell the country so ? Mr. Boyce: I would go further and prohibit the sale of it. Mr. Hopkirk: We have statistics from our stock inspectors,' showing that the vaccine treatment has not been any good. Air. Boyce: Has that been made public ? Mr. Hopkirk: I can't say whether it has or not. Air. Small: If it is no good, why bother any more ? Air.- Hopkirk: Because you asked us to. Mr. Small: In any case, 1 don’t suppose you would stop the farmers buying it ? : Air. Hopkirk said he thought the Vaccine Company didn’t like the Department , being concerned in the investigations proposed. , Air. Small: Any man who can sell me anything to give a cow will be a, pretty smart chap (laughter). Air. Barry assured the meeting that the treatment would be given a fair trial. Department’s Suggestions. , The following conditions were then drawn up for Submission to the company:— (a) Stock vaccine to be used (not autogenous for the particular herds). (b) Three herds to be chosen. (c) Samples to be tested before treatment. (d) Herds then to be halved on the test —half to be treated and half left as a control. (e) The second sample to be taken at the time of vaccination; the third at the third . ihnoculation; the fourth sample 14 days later; and samples every two months after. - The meeting-then dispersed, and no further action will be taken until the company's reply is received.