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Wool Mr. J. P. E. Duncan, Wool Supervisor, submits the following:— " The clip was generally well grown and fairly sound throughout, with perhaps some increase in the quantity of dust present, due to the prolonged period of dry weather. The appraisement scheme continues to function smoothly. The premium on well-skirted wools remains the same, so that there is no question that adequate preparation of the clip for sale is financially well worth while. " Sufficient information on sheep-ragging trials has already been collected to show that under appropriate conditions the rugging of sheep during the winter months is a sound economic proposition." Rabbit Nuisance Consequent on the man-power position, and unfortunately during latter months on the scarcity of certain essential materials, particularly strychnine, the rabbit population has shown a more or less general increase, especially in areas not controlled by Rabbit Boards. This position has created concern, and in conjunction with the Rabbit-skins Levy Committee every endeavour to encourage the killing of rabbits by the payment of subsidies on skins has been made, with some success* but nevertheless the pes/t is still in much greater numbers than for years past, and in the interests of production must be dealt with by any and every means that will bring about a reduction. Insufficient attention is given to the destruction of the pest during the sipring, summer, and autumn months, and it is in this period that more intensive work must be directed. Noxious Weeds Although financial assistance to local bodies in controlling noxious weeds, particularly ragwort, was continued, and considerable work was carried out in an endeavour to retain the benefit of the good work achieved in the past, the continued absence of sodium chlorate and atlacid/e has beein severely felt. Every endeavour was made to locate supplies, but with practically no success, and the result of the inquiries made indicates little prospect of any of these agents being obtainable, even at a considerably higher price. If the position is to be maintained, a greater use of sheep is indicated.

ANIMAL RESEARCH DIVISION REPORT OF J. F. FILMER, DIRECTOR Shortage of staff, combined with the demands of special war projects, have limited the amount of animal research which could be conducted during the year. However, by personally undertaking work usually allotted to less-skilled assistants, the professional and technical staff havte made valuable investigations, into a number of the more important problems of animal industry. Diagnostic Section at Wallaceville This section has continued to render valuable assistance in the control of animal diseases. During the year over 7,000 specimens have been examined, and 70,000 doses of blackleg vaccine and 15,500 doses of scabby-mouth vaccine have been prepared and issued. Research Work Facial Eczema.—During the first half of March, 1943, the disease was fairly widespread in the Gisborne district, but only a small percentage of sheep were affected. Scattered outbreaks occurred also in the Wairoa area and. in the Auckland Land District. Only a very small number of cases occurred on the experimental areas at Wairoa and Ruakura, and this has limited the material available for investigation by the chemists. However, the technique of pasture collection and preservation has been considerably improved, and this should be of valuable assistance in future investigations. Biochemical assays and experimental tests have confirmed the belief that phylloerythrin is the photosensitizing agent responsible for the skin lesions. The investigation of lye-grass alkaloids has been continued, and new knowledge has been obtained. Southdown Photosensitization.—The breeding experiments at Ruakura have been continued, and this year it has been possible to use an affected ram, which, should greatly assist in elucidating the mode of inheritance of this disease. Sheep JJnthriftiness: Canterbury.—Summer rains resulted in an unusually prolific growth of pasture during December. Lambs, however, did not grow well, and a number of deaths occurred. Aftcri weaning, the mortality ceased, but growth on rape was at first very poor. Internal, parasites were more in evidence than during previous years, and this afforded an opportunity to study the effects of medicinal treatment and various methods of feeding and management. These studies have been extended to the Wairoa area in association with the facial-eczema experiments, as weaned lambs do not thrive well when grazed solely on the highly-fertile flats in that district. Mastitis. —In collaboration with the Dairy Board's consulting officers, a three-years' project has been initiated with a view to establishing any possible correlation between the incidence of mastitis and such environmental factors as climate, diet, shed hygiene, and milking-machines. Already forty herds reported to have both good and bad histories in regard to mastitis, and all of which are testing members of herd-improvement associations, have been examined in the Bay of Plenty, Manawatu, and Canterbury districts. Trials have been continued with curative agents, including entozon, sulphanilamide in oil, sulphonamide E. 0.5., and " novoxil." These drags have some value, but under New Zealand conditions they seldom result in the return of an affected quarter to full lactation. Some preliminary tests have been made in the use of electric conductivity in the diagnosis of mastitis. Milking-machine Research at Wallaceville. —During the year work has been largely directed towards devising methods for economizing rubber used in milking-machines. Emergency standards prepared by the Division were accepted with some small modifications

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