H.—29

7

Contagious abortion : This disease continues to give trouble in many districts, and, as is not unusual, after apparently disappearing for a time it often reappears. It is reported by the District Superintendent, Auckland, to be present in all parts where dairying is carried on, and any general decline is not noticeable. Wellington reports it to be more prevalent than in the preceding season. In both districts the spread is no doubt accounted for largely by the increased dairying activity and the fact that in a number of cases the new milkers are inexperienced. Canterbury reports isolated cases of the disease in a number of districts, and the District Superintendent, Dunedin, reports that the trouble appears to be on the increase. The examination of the blood of cows as a means of ascertaining whether the disease is present or not has been undertaken at the Veterinary Laboratory, and a number of specimens wen; examined during tin; year. This should Ik; of assistance in dealing with this trouble. But still more effective methods- of prevention, especially are needed, and the search for these is being continued. Vaginal catarrh : This trouble; is still prevalent, in a number of districts, and owing to its persistency emtails considerable loss to owners through producing temporary sterility if not early recognized and put under suitable treatment. Tuberculosis : An analysis of the- statistics showing the result of the examination of stock on slaughter indicates a continuance of the position recorded during the previous two years, though the percentages e>f all classes of cattle (except calves) found on examination on slaughter to be affected in any degree with tuberculosis shows a slight increase on those of the previous year. This should not, however, be taken to infer that tuberculosis is on the increase among the classes of animals concerned, as it must be pointed out that owing to the low price offering for beef for export, large; numbe;rs of cattle of a class usually showing a very low percentage of tubercular animals were withheld from slaughter, thus tending to increase x the percentage figures, but not indicating the true position as would this return in a norma] year. The condemnations of cattle by Stock Inspectors in the field for tubercular infection on clinical examination and on ae;count of a reaction to the tuberculin test indicates a great activity on their part, an increase of 452 in the numbers condemned throughout the Dominion for this disease be;ing recorded. Our present methods of combating this disease have bee;n effective up to a point, but they evidently are not resulting in bringing about the steady decrease which had been hoped for, and the question of a change of policy demands consideration. Such a change would need to be on instructional and business-like lines rather than in the direction of greater repressive measures, and it is on these line's that it is being thought out. Actinomycosis : This disease; is still responsible for a considerable number of cases being reporte'd, the. figures being as follows : Auckland, 193 ; We-llington, 162 ; Canterbury, 85 ; Otago-Southland. 97. Parasitic gastritis : A good many cases came under notice 1 , and it is evident that this troublesome; affection is still responsible; for loss in districts where; wet conditions of weather and soil prevail. At the same time; stoekowners are now much better informed as to the; preventive, and curative methods needed in order to combat this trouble. Fluke : Some cases eif disease (distomiasis) resulting from the; presence of this parasite; came; under notice in the Hawke's Bay district, whe;re the existence; of these; parasites has been observed for many years past, though they had hitherto caused no apparent trouble. Cattle-tick : Amended regulations under the; Stock Act for the prevention of the spread of ticks among cattle were gazetted in February last, and immediately came into force. As is often the case with measures e>f this kind, their initial operation has brought to light local difficulties which have causeel complaint from settlers, but every emdeavour is being made to meet the;se> to the best advantage for all concerned. It is hoped that in their own interests, and the; interests of clean districts and of the Dominion as a whole;, settlers will co-operate with the Department in effectively and reasonably grappling with the pest. During the ye-ar a further nineteen dips were completed, making a, total of thirty-eight dips in all for which the Government subsidy has been paid. It is satisfactory to note that, generally speaking, stockowners, auctioneering firms, &e;., an; doing their best to comply with the regulations, and that on the; whole; they are working as satisfactorily as could bo expected. Slaughter of Stock for Food Purposes. —The; following table; summarizes the number eif stock slaughtered at specified classes of establishments throughout the Dominion during the year under review :—

In addition to the above-, the; examination of 35,799 carcases of pigs killed and dressed by farmers and sent in te) butchers' shops and small bacon-factories was carried out by officers of the Division. This examination eif pigs killed by farmers is unsatisfactory in some ways, and somewhat costly, but with the; Act as it stands it is the; best that can be; done;. Inspection of Meat. —Inspection e>f the; carcases of animals slaughtered at meat-export works, abatteiirs, and baoon-factorie;s was carried out satisfactorily during the year. The; folleiwing are the numbers of each class e>f stock slaughtered under direct inspection during the year e;nded 31st March, 1922 : Cattle, 205,087 ; sheep, 3,834,432 ; swine, 176,895 ; calves, 30,620 ; lambs, 5,052,063.

Meat-export Slaughterhouses. Baconfaotories. Ordinary Slaughterhouses. Totals. Abattoirs. Cattle .. Calves . . Sheep .. Lambs Swine .. 107,180 21,035 763,177 175,506 84,198 97,907 9,585 3,071,255 4,876,555 61,001 56,631 1,672 292,794 .33,208 17,752 261,718 32,292 4,127,226 5,085,269 194,647 31,696