TUBERCULOSIS AND STOCK

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 73, Issue 424, 15 November 1930, Page 22 (Supplement)

TUBERCULOSIS AND STOCK

PREVENTIVE MEASURES. Tuberculosis is a widespread disease which affects animals and human beings. It is spread from one animal to another. The disease is mainly spread by ingestion, i.e., eating food contaminated with the germs of the disease, possible in cowsheds where cattle are close together or in paddocks which have become contaminated. It may also be spread by inhalation, i.e., inhaling diseased germs from badly diseased animals. Herds may become tubercular through the introduction of diseased bulls or cows, by feeding calves on tubercular skim or separated milk, by placing cattle in shows where sufficient care is not taken in preventing diseased stock from entering, by sending cattle on rail in contaminated trucks and by allowing them to graze alongside their neighbours’ diseased ones.

Those are some of the modes of entry of this insiduous germ.

Tn the prevention of this disease—owners must recognise that only healthy stock should be used for brooding purposes. If practicable, the herd should be tested with tuberculin. Beef breeders, who use foster-mothers for their calves should see that the foster-mothers are free from tuberculosis. Unless owners are sure of the source of supply in dairying districts all milk for calves should be boiled prior to use. By careful application of sound, com-mon-sense measures, supplemented by scientific knowledge and suggestions, many stock diseases will in time be eradicated.