SPREAD OF CATTLE TICK.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 December 1933, Page 4

SPREAD OF CATTLE TICK.

It is to be hoped that the stockowners of Taranaki will give full heed to the warning issued by the Director of the Live-stock Division of the Department of Agriculture, Mr. W. C. Barry, in regard to the spread of cattle tick among dairy herds. Whatever regrets there may be that sufficiently energetic steps were not taken nearly a generation ago to rid the Dominion of the cattle tick when it was found in one part of North Auckland, the position to-day must be accepted as it exists. Elimination of the tick being impracticable, its control will be comparatively easy if the farmers will assist the department by keeping a close observation on any signs of tick infestation and reporting any suspicious cases to the local Inspector of Stock. Mr. Barry’s statement, published in the Daily News on Saturday, was’ reassuring in regard to the question of the New Zealand cattle tick being a disease-carrying parasite. The statement showed that later researches support former expert views that there is nothing in the shape of the dreaded “redwater” or “tick fever,” which has played such havoc with Australian cattle herds, to be feared from the parasite which has become established in New Zealand. At the same time parasite infestation of high-class dairy cattle is certainly a nuisance if it is not a danger, and must be prevented as far as possible. If supervision is reasonably efficient the detection of cattle ticks is not difficult, and, as Mr. Barry pointed out, their control can then be undertaken with every hope of success and with all the aid the departmental officers can give.