CATTLE TICK DISEASE

Waikato Times, Volume 94, Issue 14583, 4 February 1921, Page 6

CATTLE TICK DISEASE

REPORTED IN THE WAIKATO. need for firm measures. A. A P. ASSOCIATION TAKES ACTION The dreaded caltle tick, though not to a marked extent, is nevertheless present on stock in some parts of the Waikato district. The matter was referred to at a meeting of the executive of the Waikato Agricultural and Pastoral Association yesterday. Mr W. C. Park, the president, who had discussed the subject in reliable quarters, slated lhal he had been told that cattle tick had been here fop four years. I hough being kept down as much as possible, the disease was difficult to keep in chock, it, would be a serious thing if it obtained a firm hold. In the Hay of Plenty Ihe tick was extensive. It was a very serious thing, and the Government and the Department should be urged to do all possible to prevent its spread. I Inspeaker instanced one local district in which he had been informed of the presence of Die tick. lie moved the, following motion: —“Ihe executive of the Waikato A. and P. Association view with grave anxiety Die near approach of tlic dreaded cattle tick, and would respectfully bring before Hie notice of the Hen. the Minister of Agriculture the urgent necessity for preventing its spread, by either district isolation or declaring quarantine boundaries, and the immediate erection of public dips in affected areas. Mr Newell, in seconding, said that whenever Hie disease was known to bc presenl in a district tnc 'hispectois would attend to it. He recognised Unit Hie Association could very materially assist the department. When at Whangarei recently lie had discussed the tick disease with one who had had practical experience of it among Hie northern herds. Referring to the detection of the tick his informant had staled lo the speaker that the lick was very often found in Hie brush of the animal’s tail when it could not be delected in any other place. Mr Park remarked that all Hie diseases,, such as lick, scab, etc., wore prevented at Home. There was a big detrimental effect on Hie milk yield when cows became affected by the lick. Immersion dips were the most suitable, for |ho purposes of extermination, •gpray dips did not perform Hie function with such satisfying results. Mr Park's motion was carried unanimously. Cuttle tick regulations were framed in IOID to assist the farmer in eradicating Hie pest and to protect clean districts. Two of the sections of Hie Act which may he quoted with a view to showing some of the restrictions placed upon the movement of slock are as follows: — “Every person who, by himself, his agent or servant, drives without peimission of the inspector any stock affected with cattle tick, across or upon any land, or drives, depastures or suffers to stray, any slock upon or along any highway, is liable to a fine not exceeding £SO, and not less than £2 for every day during which such slock are so driven, depastured or suffered to stray,” “No cattle shall be shipped from any port in Hie North Island unless they are examined by an inspector and declared lo be free from infestation by caltle ticks.” Thus it will be nbserved that no entile can he removed from any infected place, neither by road, railway, or sea. until a clean certificate has been granted. II is also absolute.\ proliiiiit<‘<i to expose for sale or exhibition any stock affected with cattle-ticks.