CATTLE DESEASE AND RESEARCH

Southland Times, Issue 23436, 17 February 1938, Page 5

CATTLE DESEASE AND RESEARCH

VISITING EXPERTS GIVE ADDRESSES

INCIDENCE OF MASTITIS IN NEW ZEALAND

(United Press Association)

WELLINGTON, February 16. Dr G. H. Hucker, of the New York State Agricultural Experimental Station, and Dr John Hammond, of Cambridge University, each gave an address on cattle diseases and research respectively to the delegates at the Dominion conference of the New Zealand Dairy Board today. Mastitis was the main subject dealt with by Dr Hucker, who said there was as yet no known cure for the disease. Dr Hucker paid tributes to the valuable work being done by the Department of Agriculture, the Wallaceyule Veterinary Laboratory and the New Zealand Dairy Board and to the character of the general dairy farmer, who, he said, amid laughter, is a very, very high type of man. A sum of 3 000,000 dollars was being spent yearly in New York state on culling herds because of mastitis. Though no reason could be found, it was a fact that the incidence of mastitis in herds was reduced by culling. The incidence of the disease varied from 25 to 46 per cent, in every herd in New York. He estimated that in New Zealand herds there was about 5 per cent, of active mastitis, but if laboratory tests were applied he would not be at all surprised to find the incidence here was as high as it was in the United States. He considered that half the cows in New Zealand carried some evidence of mastitis. , x x , . A statement that stock to the value of more than £5,000,000 was lost in New Zealand annually through animal troubles was made by Mr W. W. Mulholland, president of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, who said that the activities of Dr Hucker and Dr Hammond in animal research were most valuable. . It would pay farmers handsomely to spend £1,000,000 a year to save these losses, he said. Dr Hammond’s contribution was connected with the problems of the producers in England and "°w far science could reduce costs on tne farm in England. He said that 25 per cent, of the cows in every herd were replaced each year. Sterility and abortion were two of the most important phases of research work. Abortion had increased very rapidly in England in the last 20 years and an. analysis of the circumstances showed that the , bull was mainly responsible for this increase.