ECZEMA IN STOCK

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23502, 17 May 1938, Page 5

ECZEMA IN STOCK

NOT Atf INFECTIOUS DISEASE BAN ON TRANSHIPMENTS UNNECESSARY The anxiety of graziers and other farmers in the South Island concerning the possible infection of their stock with facial eczema as the result of the transhipment of sheep and cattle from the North Island was referred to by Mr A. P. O’Shea, Dominion secretary of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, while in conversation with an Otago Daily Times representative yesterday The fears of southern pastoralists were groundless, he said, as the disease was not infectious or contagious, but was a digestive disorder brought about by a flush of soft feed in the autumn. The disease could be prevented to a great extent by keeping stock off soft pasturage, and feeding hay and ensilage until the pastures improved. The question of the transhipment of stock from the North Island had been referred to the Minister of Agriculture. Mr O’Shea stated, with a request that the restriction of such transporation should be considered. He had received a reply that there was no evidence of the disease being contagious, a fact that was borne out by the experience of South Africa, where the disease was a seasonally recurring one. It had been pointed out that a large number of animals had been'affected by the disease in the North Island, because they were all susceptible to the condition of the pastures. Moreover, in view of the fact that the shipment of North Island stock had now practically ceased, the Minister was of .the opinion that it was not necessary to entertain the idea of restricting transhipments. ,