CATTLE TICK MENACE.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 July 1925, Page 9

CATTLE TICK MENACE.

EFFORTS TO CONTROL IT. DIPS AT MOKAU AND PIO PIO. ACTIVITIES OF DEPARTMENT. The efforts being made by the Department of Agriculture to combat cattle tick are shortly to take further definite shape as far as Taranaki is concerned, and dips are to be erected at both Mokau and Pio Pio before the commencement of next summer, Dr. C. J. Reakes, Director-General of Agriculture, arrived in New Plymouth last night on his way north to Mokau, where he is to inspect a site selected for the Mokau dip. The suggested spot is a little distance on the south side of the river. The site for the Pio Pio dip has already been secured, and it is expected that the dip there will be completed at an early date. The spring and summer was the time of the year when the danger of spreading the infection was greatest, because the ticks were then in the adult, egg-producing stage, Dr. Reakes told a Daily NdW reporter last night. That was why the department was making, sure that all necessary precautions should be taken before this summer came along. In referring to the investigations being made by the department regarding contagious mammitis, Dr. Reakes stated that officers at thq Wallaceville laboratory were still conducting a vigorous research Into the qualities of both the types of vaccine lately put on the market in New Zealand. They had been working for a considerable time with the first type, but the investigation was not yet completed. Thorough investigations were also being made into the question of sterility and abortion amongst cows, which was assuming such importance as an evil that, wanted remedying, said Dr. Reakes. He had three specially trained veterinary surgeons giving up most of their time to this subject. Their work was bringing out some valuable information, and it was hoped it would result in an advance in knowledge regarding these diseases which would be of great use to dairy farmers. These diseases so far, had baffled investigation all over the world, but the work was going on, and better means of combating them would, it was hoped, result.