METHOD RATHER THAN MEDICINE

Taranaki Daily News, 25 August 1931, Page 8

METHOD RATHER THAN MEDICINE

The review given to farmers last week by the veterinary research officer at New Plymouth, Mr. W. M. Webster, was remarkable for the manner in which it indicated the value of selfhelp in coping with diseases among stock. Mr. Webster referred in particular to three diseases or disorders that seriously affect the dairy herds in the Dominion, and in regard to each of them the conclusion he arrived at was that improvement in farming methods would do more to eliminate the evils than any medicinal treatment. Indeed, it is rather remarkable, that the result of painstaking research in later years should show 60 little difference in advice as to care and .treatment of affected stock from that afforded many years ago. In the disorders of contagious abortion and sterility the wisdom of breeding rather than buying herds and the need for care in the choice of the bull because of its possible chare in spreading the disease are but a repetition of advice given by the Department over a quarter of a century ago. The. same may be said of the disease mastitis. Separation of .affected animals from healthy ones during milking and the need for the utmost cleanliness in the utensils used in connection with the former was advice given 27 years ago by Dr. J. A. Gilruth, then the head of the veterinary profession in this country. This is not to say that nothing has been added to the sum of scientific knowledge in regard to these diseases which Mr. 'Webster and other scientists are investigating. One of them had been found to affect human beings, a consideration that did not seem likely to - arise when contagious abortion first became- troublesome nearly 30 years ago. The discovery of diagnosis by blood test is one of the i most important in the control and ultimate elimination of the disease, and only scientists know the time and labour involved before any pronouncement can be made $s guidance to the stockowner. Put bluntly, the official conclusion given by Mr. Webster is that these three disorders cannot be cured. They can be controlled, and they can be eliminated if the farmer will- set himself to do so by following the methods of herd control recommended. That a widespread effort to get rid of these troubles would result in increased finance' returns to farmers and the possible elimination of some of the difficulties in cheese manufacture seems fairly evident. Being chiefly a question of management, the expert advice should be within the reach of most farmers. The r’ternative is a continuance, and perhaps an increase, of the difficulties that at present beset the path of the dairy farmer.