MAMMITIS AMONG COWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18838, 13 October 1924, Page 11

MAMMITIS AMONG COWS.

POSITION IN THE WAIKATD.

THE NEED FOR INVESTIGATION. [BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN COBBJES* ONDJSJTT. ] HAMILTON. Saturday. "Various forms of mammiti3, from a chill and hardness of the udder to the worst variety of contagious mammitis, are prevalent among the dairy herds of the Wai*ato this spring. A veterinary surgeon stated to-day that the disease this year is not much worse than it has been in previous years, but that the loss every season from this source of danger to stock was assuming alarming proportions. Few Pfopie, he said, realised what a dread disease contagious mammitis was. Every farmer who had it in his herd said nothing about it. for once it was rumoured that his stock was affected, it meant that his chances of a successful sale when he tried to get rid of the afflicted cattle would be gono. It was only when tha wcriit stages of the disease were reached that veterinary advice was sought. Need more stringent Government super*Hߣsion over herds that were affected was £ If veterinary surgeon stated that he had studied mammitis for years. A vaccine had been discovered in Hamilton, and its use had met with gratifying success. the percentage of cures reaching well over 90. The only disadvantage in connection with the vaccine was that it rered four injections at intervals, and this meant considerable expense, often more than the cow required to be treated wor '-'}- There was great need in tho u aik'ito for organised effort in the treatment of the disease. The use of the vaccine referred to had not been encouraged by the Government. Without Government investigation of the treatment and its efficacy being established by departmental ; ofncers, little could be done to combat mammitis in the Waikato except what was being done with the use of the vaccine by private enterprise and its limited laboratory facilities. A good many of the Wore valuable herds had been treated „ . nrt K the last- few seasons by the vaciine, and it is claimed that the owners are well satisfied with the results, apart from the present unavoidable feature of the cost.