TESTS FOR TUBERCULOSIS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19423, 7 September 1937, Page 10

TESTS FOR TUBERCULOSIS

GISBORNE ACTIVITY 1400 COWS IN FIVE MONTHS INCREASE ON PAST YEARS Gisborne farmers are snaking greater use of the service provided by the Department of Agriculture for the testing of cattle for tuberculosis, and during the past five months 1400 cows have been tested, compared with 777 for 12 months during 1935-3 G. Farmers are now applying freely, and large numbers of cows have been accepted for tests during the past few weeks. The veterinary supervisor, Mr. P. Haugh, has a fairly substantial list of herds to cope with. ' Most of the applications come from dairy farmers, although a number are in respect of station cattle. The principle of testing has become more popular during the past few years since the introduction of the simpler method whereby injections are made between the layers of the skin, the veterinary officer returning in three days to ascertain the results of the test. This is called the intra dermal test. Previously the system was more involved, and entailed several visits and much inconvenience for the farmer. Mr. Haugh stated that approximately 5 per cent of the cows tested had been condemned after the results of the tests had been made known. As 1400 had been tested since April 1, the total condemned in that time would come to about 70. Some idea of the manner in which farmers of the district have responded to the testing for tuberculosis is given in the following figures covering the past few years showing the number of cattle dealt with:— Cattle tested. 1935-30 .. .. 777 1936-37 .. .. 1757 1937-38 (five months) . . 1400 Applications have been made for the testing of a large number of cattle during the coming fortnight.