THE FARMER

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 2312, 3 December 1925, Page 10

THE FARMER

TUBERCULOSIS IN DAIRY HERDS POSITION IN PALMERSTON NORTH REASSURING. Recently when the Palmerston North Borough Council raised the cuestion of the prevalence of tuberculosis in dairy cattle, the Department of Agriculture agreed to a special inspection of the herds supplying milk for consumption in the borough. This examination has been practically completed by a veterinary surgeon of the Department and the position revealed is reassuring. The herds are reported as comparing very favourably with those supplying milk to other cities, although earlier in the season there was a little uneasiness because of the general poor condition of the cows, owing to the exceptionally severe winter. Cows throughout the Manawatu are now in fine condition, having picked up wonderfully since the springgrowth sot in. The Case of Pigs. It is interesting to recall in connection with the agitation of the Borough Council for a better supervision of the sale of pigs for human consumption that in some parts of the world, tubercular meat is sold at a cheap rate after having been sterilised or treated in some similar manner to destroy the tubercular germ. This fact raises the question of whether there is such an enormous amount of risk run in eating infected meat, provided it is well cooked, as cooking is quite sufficient to destroy the tubercular bacillus. The thought of eating diseased food of course is objectionable. just as one revolts at the idea of eating a calf that is newly born, although even on some New Zealand farms this is done. The case of milk is different, because n great deal of that is consumed in the same state as it comes from the cow. However, a good precaution with milk, would be to bring it to boiling point before use.