H.— 29

12

As before, the vaccine used was all prepared at the Department's Veterinary Laboratory, and the results were entirely satisfactory. Contagious Mammitis. —This disease in cows does not appear to have been quite so prevalent throughout the dairying districts as formerly, and although a large number of samples of milk (739) from suspected cases were received at the Veterinary Laboratory for examination, only 169 were found to show the specific streptococci indicating the contagious form, while 143 proved the presence of other non-contagious forms. The fact of so many samples of milk from suspected cases of mammitis having been forwarded, and only a fairly small percentage of them proving to bo from mammitis-infected cows, indicates that milking-machines have been the agency responsible for setting up udder troubles resembling mammitis. As milking-machines are also a big factor in the spread of the disease, it is necessary that the greatest care be taken to have the cups, &c, thoroughly cleaned and regularly sterilized, and the cows' udders examined by hand after each milking so that any abnormality might be at once detected and checked. Contagious Abortion. —This disease is still giving considerable trouble, and is the cause of a considerable sum being lost to dairy-farmers and to the Dominion. I cannot get away from the fact that in spite of the pains the Department has taken during the past fifteen to twenty years to place before tho farmer the best advice available regarding this disease, and the means to be adopted for its prevention and control, the loss is still much, greater than it would be if farmers would only exercise a little more care, particularly when introducing new animals to the herd. I have heard of numbers of cases where it is alleged that although the treatment prescribed has been carefully followed out the disease continues to give trouble, but, on the other hand, I have also heard of numerous cases where success has followed on the treatment being energetically and honestly followed and every precaution taken as regards new additions to the herd. In a number of cases treatment is not taken up soon enough, and even when, resorted to it is only because the initial carelessness has " come home " with telling effect in the loss of numbers of the herd for that season's dairying. The latest developments in the investigation of this disease in other countries arc being closely watched, and investigations are also being conducted as regards the results of their findings. Vaginal Catarrh. —Cases of vaginal catarrh have occurred in a number of the districts, but Manawatu appears to have contributed more cases than other localities. lam still of opinion, however, that more cases of failure to conceive are attributable to this trouble than have been definitely determined. In all cases where owners of affected herds have properly carried out the treatment prescribed by-officers of this Division the trouble has been got over, but owing to the treatment necessarily extending over a considerable period many cows are lost for the season. Tuberculosis. —I have again to report a decrease in the respective percentages of cows, bullocks, heifers, and swine found to be affected with tuberculosis in any degree on the examination of these animals slaughtered at meat-export works, abattoirs, and bacon-factories. The decreases in the various classes of stock are as follows : Cows, 2-09 per cent. ; bullocks and heifers, 0-27 per cent. ; swine, 0-34 per cent. On the other hand, bulls show an increase of 0-61 per cent, on the previous year's figures. A very encouraging feature of the above position is the substantial decrease shown in the percentage of cows found affected with tuberculosis when slaughtered. The condemnations for tuberculosis by Stock Inspectors on the farm or in the yards were 3,251 (a decrease of ten on the figures for the same period last year), this number being distributed among the District Superintendents' districts as follows : Auckland, 1,547 ; Wellington, 1,210 ; Canterbury, 362 ; and Otago, 132. A further analysis of the figures again shows Marlborough and Nelson cattle as being remarkably free of tho disease, only five being condemned in the former and three in the latter districts for the twelve months. These districts are in an enviable position, and constitute an ideal ground for the commencement of a campaign with a view to the cleaning up of the herds of the Dominion as regards this disease. The importance of this step in maintaining the health of the community undoubtedly warrants the matter being taken up by instituting a tuberculin test of the cattle in these districts in the first instance, and maintaining the herds in a healthy condition by testing all new entrants to the district and retesting at regular intervals all the animals therein. This system could then be gradually extended to other districts offering suitable conditions. The initial expense involved in payment of compensation would no doubt be considerably greater than at present, but the results obtained would, I am sure, amply repay the Dominion, and the annual sum of over £20,000 which this disease alone now draws from the Consolidated Fund in compensation for cattle condemned would ultimately diminish ; while in respect to the more healthy condition of cows generally the gain to the Dominion would not be estimated in money alone, but in the greater freedom from the risks of contagion passing to the human subject. Actinomycosis. —This disease was responsible for the condemnation by Stock Inspectors of 550 cattle on the farm or in the saleyards, distributed as follows, last year's figures being shown in parentheses : Auckland District. 206 (158) ; Wellington District, 133 (102) ; Canterbury District, 80 (59) ; Otago and Southland Districts, 131 (135). It will be noticed that this disease is on the increase, ninety-six more cattle being condemned than last year. The District Superintendent, Dunedin, in his report states : "I note in regard to the prevalence of this disease that most of the cases in the high country are affected in the bony structure of the face, while those in the lower areas are affected in the tongue, the latter form being as a rule amenable to treatment. In this respect I find that 2 drams of potassium iodide given twice daily for ten days gives good results —better and quicker than the mercuric potassium iodide soloids." In the majority of cases the disease has been confined to one or two animals in a herd at the most, but the District Superintendent, Wellington, reports that in,; one outbreak near Hastings sixteen animals in one mob were found badly affected, and were condemned.