IMPORTED CATTLE

Waikato Times, Volume 108, Issue 18170, 7 November 1930, Page 10

IMPORTED CATTLE

FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE. OPPOSITION TO LIFTING EMBARGO At the quarterly meeting of the Board of Agriculture in Palmerston North the question of the embargo on the importation of livestock from Great Britain -received consideration. At its meeting in August, the board passed a resolution to the. effect that if Great Britain remained free from foot and mouth disease unj,il the end of the current year, it was considered that stock from Great Britain should be permitted into New Zealand subject to reasonable precautions. This recommendation was embodied in a communication which was circulated to all A- & P. associations, breed societies and the Farmers' Union, asking those bodies for their views on the subject. However, in September last noliflcation was received by the Department of Agriculture that several outbreaks had occurred that month in Great Britain. This information which was made public, undoubtedly influenced the societies communicated with by the board, as practically all the societies who replied were opposed to the lifting of the embargo. At its meeting in October, therefore, the board decided that, in view of the recent outbreaks of the diseases in Great Britain it would take no action at present in regard to recommending a removal of the embargo on stock from Great Britain.

Argentine Experience

The Director-General of Agriculture, who was present at the meeting, informed the Board that he had cabled to the High Commissioner for New Zealand in London regarding the recently reported outbreaks of foot and mouth disease amongst imported stock whilst in the quarantine station at Buenos Aires. In his reply the High

Commissioner stated that he was advised by the British Ministry of Agriculture that it was no uncommon experience for outbreaks of foot and moutli disease to occur among imported animals from Great Britain while undergoing quarantine in Buenos Aires, the infection being of Argentine origin and taken into the quarantine station on fodder, attendants and purchasers. , The period of incubation of the dis- ! ease is so short that 'if cattle were infected before'leaving Great Britain they wou'd develop the disease on the voyage and would not be allowed to land in Argentina. No British stock have ever been refused admission to the quarantine station at Buenos Aires i on this score.