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63
Whilst there has been a general decline due to improved husbandry
and feeding in the post war years the present clean bill is due to the
compulsory terberculin testing of all milk producing herds.
The incidence of tuberculosis in pigs has also declined from a pre war
percentage of 8.1% to 1.96% in 1963, again due to improved husbandry
and scientific feeding although the pre war figure may also be associated
with the practice of feeding the strippings and skimmed milk from the
cows to the pigs. Again in 1963 all tuberculosis in pigs was localised in the
head, whereas before the war the disease was far more wide spread in the
animal, necessitating the condemnation of an average of six whole
carcases per annum due to generalized infection.
Cysticercus Bovis in cattle, a parasite which can cause tape worm in
man if not destroyed by adequate heat treatment, was isolated in 17 beasts,
an incidence of 1.42%. In two cases the condition was generalized resulting
in the total condemnation of the carcases, and in nine cases the lesion was
viable, necessitating the treatment of the carcases by extreme refrigeration.
This treatment can result in considerable financial loss to the owner,
though at most markets it is possible to insure against the condition.
The carcase of one other beast was condemned due to bruising after
injury.
Two pig carcases were condemned due to (i) chronic inflammation
and (ii) multiple abscesses; and two sheep carcases condemned due to
(i) emaciation and oedema and (ii) sceptic pneumonia.
One calf which arrived in a moribund state was also condemned.
The incidence of other diseases in cattle was 16.5% compared with
19.7% pre war, due mostly to the parasitic or abscessed condition of the
liver.
In pigs, however, the incidence of other diseases and conditions has
increased from a pre war figure of 4.1% to 12.6% in 1963, due mainly to
such respiratory conditions as pneumonia, pleurisy and congestion.
aver percentage of other diseases in sheep was 5.5% compared with an
age of 1.6% before the war, the most common disease in both cases
being parasitic infections of the liver and lungs.