CATTLE SCOURGE.

Waikato Times, Volume 103, Issue 17411, 25 May 1928, Page 9

CATTLE SCOURGE.

WARNING TO N.Z. A SERIOUS POSITION. foot and mouth disease. DOMINION’S PERIL. While South American herds and llocks arc ridden with that dread malady foot and mouth disease, and while British authorities arc so worried about the disease, wu centuries lias been kept m check, but never exterminated in Britain, - cw Zealand yet leaves its door to the entry of this devastating scourge As the law at present stands stock of any kind may be imported into New Zealand after a specified period of quarantine. .. . The question arises, however, is this a sufficient safeguard to our immune flocks and herds? Many Prominent .stockbreeders declare emphatically that it is not. They say. very firmly, that the door should be locked and barred absolutely against the admission of cattle, sheep and pigs from other countries. A Positive Disaster. It is only those who have had actual experience of foot and mouth disease in stock who can possibly realise what a disastrous thing it would be l'or this country should it once be introduced here. New Zealand, dependent as it is on its export of dairy produce, beef, mutton and wool, cannot afford to take the slightest risk of infection. Once here, the disease would probably be here for all Lime. It could so affect our herds as to almost completely cripple the dairy and beef industries for an indefinite period. The same thing applies to sheep and pigs. Is there any occasion to take this risk? Directors of the Farmers’ Auctioneering Company definitely assert that there is not. They say we already have all the best English and Channel Island breeds of cattle requisite for successfully carrying on the dairy industry and also for the export of beef. New Zealand is supplied with Shorthorns, Jerseys, Ayrshires, Ilolstcins, Dexter and Kerry, and other cattle, with quite sufficient breeding to ensure good future producers. Added to this the Dominion has the finest general system of herd selection through the New Zealand Co-operative Herd Testing Association, with headquarters in Hamilton, that is probably in the world. This systematic testing has already been responsible for a tremendous improvement in the herds of this province, and as the Government is now sponsoring the system a few years should see the butterfat standard throughout New Zealand raised to an extent even now hardly conceived. The leading herds arc now established on a good basis, and importations would probably do more harm than good. Representations Should Be Made. With regard to our flocks, we have at present good representatives of the Romney, Lincoln, Leicester, Oxford, Down, Shropshire, Southdown, Corricdate, Merino and other well-known breeds, amply sufficient for our requirements. Many of these have become indigenous to the country and have been bred in Ihc Dominion to suit our special climatic conditions. They arc,, therefore, more valuable to the country than importations could possibly he. A'very serious view is taken of the position which might arise if further importations are permitted, and the hoard of directors of the Farmers’ Auctioneering Company consider that representations should be made to the Government by the farming community with a view to barring the door against further importations. Mr Joseph Borugh,. who is taking a particular interest in this important question, when interviewed by a Times representative to-day, said the farmers should he warned of the perils that await them if foot and mouth disease or cattle plague once become established here. Jl had been found, he said, that an examination showed that the disease remained in the bones of affected stock oven after the dead meat had been in cold store for 70 odd days. This fact alone would he sufficient lo kill (he export trade. Ju view of these serious warnings by responsible members of the farming community we would suggest that the dairy companies of the district, tiie agricultural societies, the Farmers’ Union and the breeders’ associations should hold a conference with the object of making a joint and omphalic representation to the Government on the matter.