Compulsory Inspection of Dairy Cows.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XXX, Issue 8494, 5 July 1906, Page 7

Compulsory Inspection of Dairy Cows.

Mr A. Schmidt, of Clevcdon, writes as follows on the subject of compulsory inspection of dairy cows, which has been urged by the Clevedon branch of the Farmers' Union : • —" There are many reasons why the compulsory inspection of dairy cows by a fully qualified veterinarian should be carried out. In the first place, I ask any farmer from ■which cow does he reserve the milk for his household—the best and healthiest looking cow, or the opposite? He will take the healthiest, certainly. Now, farmers have this advantage over the consumer.,of butter or milk—that they can choose for themselves what cow they think best. If the farmer choose 3 the best cow for himself it proves at once there is an inferior, and it is the inferior or the unhealthy cow which farmers ought to get out of their herds. I do not say that in every herd there are diseased cows; but there might be. The •Government found three only a short time .ago, and I am sure the State conditions of farming are of the best. It is possible that half the colds, influenza, and many other diseases are transmitted from cows to the consumer. However conscientious farmers may wish to be, they cannot all be veterinarians, able to tell which cow is healthy and which is not, and there should not be more expense attached to a qualified veterinarian visiting dairies and farms once or twice a year than there is in the attendance of a veterinarian at the stock sales. The former course would prevent the spread of disease amongst cattle much more effectually than the attendance of a veterinarian at stock sales, when it is too late, as the animals have by that time come in close contact with one another. Some time ago some twenty odd pigs were sent South from the Auckland province, They were all condemned. The question is, What were they fed on ? They were fed on separator milk, not from one dairy, but from many. That in itself is sufficient reason for urging compulsory inspection on our farms, which, in any case, can do no harm if our animals are healthy, and will be no loss to us. If they are not, to what risk are we subjecting not only our families, tut those who buy and consume our produce? If we have to kill half our herds because they are diseased we ought, instead of feeling angry, to thank our lucky stars that they have been pointed out to u>. In conclusion, I might say that many consumers of butter have said they would willingly pay a penny a pound more for the butter if it was guaranteed from inspected dairies."