THE CATTLE TICK.

Northern Advocate, 22 October 1920, Page 3

THE CATTLE TICK.

COMPLETELY ERADICATED.

An article in the "Pastoral Review" of last month contains some interesting information cm the eradication of the cattle lick on a South African proIt affords proof that, by determinedly tackling the tick pest by means of thorough and regular dippings or sprayings with a reliable cattle dipping preparation, the tick can not only be. kept in eaeck but eau be absolutely and completely exterminated on any property. This result cannot be achieved in a season, but nevertheless complete eradication must be the aim of every cattle owner who has the cattle tick pest to cope with, and if he perseveres, with a tested and approved dipping preparation, in a serious business-like manner, success will reward his offotts.

The article states that Gonubie Park, a-n estate near East London, Cape Province, South Africa, was a few years ago so badly infested with numerous varieties of cattle ticks that it had to be abandoned for stock-rais-ing purposes. Heartwater, East Coast fever, and other tick-borne diseases caused such heavy losses among stock that Gonubie Partc was only used by butchers for running their slaughter animals for a brief period. These animals sufficed to keep the tick pest at its fullest activity. In these apparently hopeless circumstances Messrs William Cooper and Nephews, proprietors of Cooper's Dips, purchased Gonubie Park for the purpose of demonstrating that the most grossly tick-infested country can be completely cleansed to enable 'hea,lthy and profitable "stock-raising to' be carried on. Research work by the iutm's scientists undertaken on thorough lines evolved Cooper's Cattle Dip, by regular use of which they accomplished their purpose.- How successfully is told by the South African "Farmers' Weekly" of 7th July, 3920, in 'the following paragraph: —'' Gonubie Park Estate sale on Wednesday, 30th June, was a great success; no small tribute to Coopers. - On all the hundreds of cattle that were sold not a single solitary tick -was seea, and Mr Allister Miller, of Swaiziland, was of the opinion that the sale was one of the most successful ever held in South Africa. Messrs William Cooper and Nephews have now reached a stage when it is no longer necessary to have an experimental farm; they have completely conquered the tick' in a once notoriously infested district, hence the reason for the dispersal sale."

One important result of Messrs Cooper's work is that they proved that by completely eradicating the the land all through that tick-infested area became greatly appreciated in value; Gonubie Park realised at auction nearly three times the amount Messrs Cooper originally gave for it.