DISEASE AMONG COWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20086, 25 October 1928, Page 17

DISEASE AMONG COWS.

HEAVY LOSS TO FARMERS. PROBLEM NOT YET SOLVED. MORE RESEARCH WORK URGED. [I)Y TELEGRAPH. —OWN' CORRESPONDENT.] DA KG AVI LLE, Wedneßcl ay. Keen interest was taken in n. meeting of farmers anrl others yesterday for the purpose of discussing with Colonel Lyons, of the live stock division of the Agricultural Department, the position with regard to loss ljv disease in stock, particularly dairy stock. It, was pointed out that the complaint was not a local or district one, heavy loss being sustained by fanners throughout the Dominion. Several speakers contended that the department was not taking the interest in the matter which it should and that pressure should be brought to bear on the Government to devote more attention to research work in connection with abortion and mammitis in cows, the two chief diseases among the dairy cattle of the Dominion. One farmer stated that disease had cost him £l5O a year during the last six years. In reply to a question whether the trouble was more prevalent in highly-bred stock than the poorer classes, Colonel Lyons said his experience had been that there was less trouble in purebred stock. Keeping the Farmers Poor. Mr. R. E. Clements said disease was keeping dairy farmers poor. What was needed was research work by the department. He considered thi best men in the world should bo secured by the Government to investigate the trouble and endeavour to arrive at some solution, even if it cost £1,000.000. Mr. Percy Hill said he did not agree with Colonel Lyons' statement that the diseases were less in the Northern Wairoa district than in many other portions of the Dominion. He could say, as president of the Herd-Testing Association, that the greatest excuse offered by farmers for not taking up testing was that they could not raise enough heifers on account of disease to replace culls, and therefore testing was of no use. Ho could say that stock disease was responsible for the loss of 12J* per cent, to 15 per cent, of the herds in the Northern Wairoa. Each farmer was losing £IOO a year on account of disease. He considered it was time the necessity was urged upon the Government of employing thorough research work with a view to finding a remedy. Activity of Department. Mr. W. P. Begg moved the following resolution : "That this representative meeting of farmers of the Northern Wairoa commends the Government on the action it has taken in instituting and furthering research work in the interests of both agriculturists and industrialists, and that it. be asked to bear in mind the necessity of continued research, particularly of the contagious diseases affecting stock in this Dominion." Messrs. Clements and P. A. Lev,'is considered the resolution was not going far enough. Mr. H. Montgomery said he had been farming all his lifo and he considered if farmers supported the department more they would get along better. Colonel Lyons, in replying, said ho had been round the district during the past few days and could say that the disease gave cause for complaint. It was, how ever, no worse hero than in other parts of the North Island. He considered the trouble was due in cases to deficiency of animal husbandry. To this statement. Mr. Clemcnt% objected, stating that he had, for one, followed the department's instructions implicitly and still was no further forward. Colonel Lyons continued that care should be taken to keep affected cows from the rest of the herd. He had noticed that care was not being taken as it should have been. Cows had been noticed coming in in far too popr condition and better provision in .this direction should be made. Farmers should make known thejr troubles to the Stock Department. Otherwise, how could they expect help ? The department was only too willing to help in this matter, and was doing all in its power. No Success Oveisuas. The material and money were available and tho division was working with the rest of tho world to find tho cause. Colonel Lyons could not jco any point; in bringing overseas expertu to the country at a great expense. These men were working on tho problem in their own countries, and any success which attended their efforts would ho made available here. Professor Bang, of Copenhagen, acknowledged to be tho authority throughout the world on the subject of abortion, had given much time to this problem, and was still conducting investigation, but even ho as yet had not been sble to get to the root of the trouble. Colonel Lyons gave his assurance that the department was doing everything possible in an endeavour to arrive at a solulion of tho problem, and was always alive to any discoveries made in other parts of the world. Mr. A. E. Harding paid a tribute to tho work being done by the research laboratory. Tho following motion, moved by Mr. Clements, was then put to the meeting ,-yid carried:—"That this meeting of dairy farmers requests the Government to expedite the establishment at, Massey Agricultural College of a bacteriological veterinary research staff, and an analytical chemical research staff to work in conjunction to combat contagious abortion, sterility and mammitis in dairy cows." Colonel Lyons answered several questions dealing with the general handling of herds and was accorded a vote of thanks.