ANIMAL NUTRITION

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 19959, 17 November 1934, Page 5

ANIMAL NUTRITION

A CENTRAL STATION?

EXPERT’S ADVICE A general discussion on subjects relating to animal health and nutrition took place at the last meeting of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, advantage being taken of the presence at part of the meeting of Sir Arnold Theiler. the eminent visitingveterinarian, to hear his views and to seek his advice. The chairman, Professor H. G. Denham, said that with regard to the position in New Zealand some four years ago after a visit to the Mairoa district, he and Mr Rigg had framed a proposal that an animal nutrition station should be started somewhere in the North Island, preferably at Hamilton, where nutritional work could be taken up with an adequately trained staff. Some months ago Mr Rigg submitted a somewhat modified scheme for dealing generally with animal nutrition problems. As things are at present one had to realise that there were some four or five interested bodies working on animal health, i.e. Wallaceville. Lincoln College, Massey College, and Cawthron. All these institutions were definitely interested, and there were inadequate arrangements for the co-ordination of the work. As a preliminary measure, he thought it advisable to try to bring these bodies together so that each one would be cognisant of the work the other was doing. The aim could be for a central station when finance was available. He recognises the veterinary side was a most important one, also animal pathology.

The secretary, Dr. E. Marsden, said that he felt the work should be coordinated so that the most promising work in any one section could be encouraged and enlarged upon. The question was the easiest way to tackle this problem. Mr T. Rig'g considered a central station was required in addition to various institutions. He felt that the work now being done could be treated as subsidiary to the work of the central station, but the co-ordination of all effort was essential. Co-ordinating Body The chairman welcomed Sir Arnold, and briefly outlined the position as at present existing in New Zealand. He explained that there were already four or five institutions working on the problems, Wallaceville dealing with the the veterinary side. In addition to these institutions. there was the chemical aspect of the pastures in the various deficiency areas. The question to be considered was as to what extent could the existing organisations be altered to provide for the co-ordination which was at present inadequate. Would it be more advisable to strengthen the present organisation or to establish a central organisation which would act as a co-ordinating body? In view of Sir Arnold’s very wide experience, he thought perhaps he might be able to advise the best course to take.

In outlining the work in this direction being done in South Africa, where problems similar to those in New Zealand had to be faced, Sir Arnold said that they had one central laboratory, probably the largest in the world. They had, too, plenty of funds, thanks to the Government then in office, and the success attained had been due to exemplary co-operation.

In reply to a question. Sir Arnold stated that he thought when looking for a man to coordinate the work in New Zealand it would be better to obtain a man with experience and pay him about £I2OO a year. He need not necessarily be a veterinarian; he could be a bio-chemist. He added that he had not been in New Zealand longenough to say whether New Zealand had sufficient jurisdiction to embark upon some programme on a minor scale. All he could say was that if he lived in this country he could find plenty to do. Lines of Work “The best advice I can give,” he said, “is to make use of all the f<srces you have and co-ordinate them. There are in this country numerous urgent Dioblems, such as mastitis. You have also parastites in this country. Then there are sufficient minor problems. All these would keep research going. It is advisable when you have several sections working on the same problem to bring them all together and let them talk the matter out, and then find some compromise. Of the work I have seen at Lincoln College, for Instance, I think that is the right place for it. It is essential that each group of workers should know what the other

group are doing so that complete coordination is achieved.” The council decided to consider the matter further at its next meeting, and it was resolved to have in the meantime a report drafted for circulation among members of the council.