Diseases in Stock

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 41, 18 February 1938, Page 8

Diseases in Stock

TRIBUTES PAID TO RESEARCH IN DOMINION WELLINGTON, Feb. 16. Dr. G. H. Hucker, of the New York State Agricultural Experimental Station, aijd Dr. John Hammond, of Cambridge University, each gave an address on cattle diseases and research, respectively, to the delegates at today’s Dominion conference of the New Zealand Dairy Board. Mastitis was the main subject dealt with by Dr. Hucker, who said there was as yet no known cure for the disease.

Dr. Hucker paid tributes to the valuable work being done by the Department of Agriculture, the Wallaceville veterinary laboratory and the New Zealand Dairy Board, and to the character of the general dairy farmer who, he said, amid laughter, “is a very, very high type of man.” So far as mastitis was concerned, 3,000,000 dollars was being spent yearly in New York State on culling herds. Though no reason could be found, it was a fact that tho incidence of the disease was reduced by culling. Tho incidence varied from 25 to 4G per eent.in every herd in New York. He estimated that in New Zealand herds there was about 5 per cent, of active mastitis, but if laboratory tests were applied he would not be at all surprised to find the incidence here was as high as it was in the United States. He considered that half the cows in New Zealand carried some evidence of mastitis. The statement that stock to the value of more than £5,000,000 was lost in New Zealand annually through animal troubles was made by Mr. W. W. Mulholland, president cf the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, who said that the activities of Dr. Hucker and Dr. Hammond in animal research were most valuable. It would pay the farmers handsomely to spend £1,000,000 a year to save these losses. He said Dr. Hammond’s contribution was connected with the problems of the producers in England and how far science could reduce the costs on the farm in England. He said 25 per cent, of the cows in every herd were replaced each year.