ANTHRAX IN CATTLE

Southland Times, Issue 23437, 18 February 1938, Page 2

ANTHRAX IN CATTLE

ENGLISH CONCERN AT SPREAD OF DISEASE “A large proportion of the outbreaks may arise from the use of certain feeding stuffs imported from countries in which infection is rife. In other cases the source of infection may be the use of artificial manure of animal origin on the land, or the effluent from tanyards and factories causing contamination of streams. “It has been suggested that imported products that might carry infection should be sterilized at the ports, but even if this were practicable the cost would be prohibitive.” The Ministry’s report on anthrax in 1935 stated that of the 386 outbreaks confirmed, 66 were possibly connected with previous cases on the farms, and 208 might have originated from the use of imported feeding stuffs. The Ministry of Agriculture in England and many county agricultural committees are concerned about the increase in the occurrence of anthrax among cattle. Outbreaks this year, up to August 15, numbered 472, involving 573 animals. These figures, compared with those for the same period last year, show that outbreaks have increased by 168 and individual cases by 213. Ministry experts, judging by statistics collected over the last 15 years, believe that the total number of outbreaks by the end of the year will approach the 600 mark. Last year the total figure was 468; in the previous year, 386. ______