Some observations on disease incidence among dairy cattle in North Taranaki

Abstract

Extract

In recent years there has been increasing interest in schemes for disease eradication and preventive medicine. Any such schemes depend upon a clear definition of the expected animal heath risk in a particular area and season, but precise information on disease incidence is still conspicuous by its absence in veterinary literature, and much of what is available has relied upon informed guesswork. The Animal Health Laboratories are now undertaking electronic data processing of laboratory reports to help fill this gap in our knowledge. However, this will only supply data on the type of case from which samples are submitted. These data will have undergone a double process of selection and deletion, first by the farmer selecting the cases for which he will summon professional assistance, and secondly by the veterinary practitioner selecting the cases for which he requires laboratory investigations.