STERILITY IN COWS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3912, 5 March 1929, Page 14

STERILITY IN COWS.

SERIOUS PROBLEM FOR THE DOMINION.

PALMERSTON N., February 28. The statement that half of the cows in the Moutoa district are suffering from a disorder which causes temporary sterility was made at to-day’s meeting of the Dairy Farmers’ Union executive. While not coming as a surprise to the executive, it emphasised the seriousness of the trouble from the point of view of production. It is pointed out that the Moutoa district is' not the only one affected, and that the disease is playing havoc all over the Dominion. The Rangiotu branch wrote asking if any further information was available respecting the failure of cows to conceive. The disease had gone through a near district a'ffccting hundreds of cows, and perhaps it was not exaggerating to say thousands. It was feared the disease would mean a decrease in production by quite 50 per cent. Every known treatment had been tried without success. At the recent Himitangi sale three empty cows were sold which tw-o years ago had produced 5981 b, 4241 b, and 4001 b of butterfat. Each of those cows produced heifer calves. Their yearly aggregate return, with butterfat at Is 6d per lb, would be £llO Bs. Such cows should never have to be sold as stores. The branch suggested that the matter be brought before the department again, as a most serious problem was confronting the dairying industry. Speaking to the question, Mr F. J. Legg stated that two suggestions had been made. - The first was that the Massey College should buy cows and try them out. The second suggestion was that a scientist should be specially imported even if it cost £lO,OOO * a year. One man he knew of had had a Setback that would take him 10 years to ”ecover from. Mr P. J. Small suggested that a copy of the letter be sent to the department and the Minister of Agriculture in order to bring before the department as often as possible the necessity of decreasing the mortality of cow from the disease. Mr W. H. Gimblett stated that without exaggeration half of the herds of the Moutoa district were affected by fne trouble. He thought the department should send an officer there to conduct investigations.

Mr Small’s suggestion was adopted.