The Animal Industry Division of the Department (employing at present 50 veterinarians) is responsible for controlling infectious diseases of animals, for preventing the entry of exotic diseases and providing for their eradication and for offering an extension service in animal-disease control and husbandry. The Division is organised under a Director who is the chief veterinary officer for the Dominion. There are five administrative districts–Auckland Palmerston North, Christchurch, Hamilton, and Dunedin, each with a Livestock Superintendent who controls a district staff of veterinarians and livestock instructors

The Stock Act of 1908 and its regulations provides for the control and prevention of infectious diseases of stock. Certain dangerous infectious diseases of stock scheduled under the Stock Act are controlled by field officers of the Division. These officers also investigate deaths and outbreaks of disease among farm stock and they work in the field of animal husbandry to increase production and reduce losses. The Division runs the animal quarantine station on Somes Island in Wellington harbour. The prior permission of the Divisional Director is necessary before stock can be imported. The Government controls all meat inspection services. Veterinarians of the Meat Division train, examine, and give technical and administrative direction to the meat inspectors.

The Animal Research Division is organised round its several research stations. Wallaceville Animal Research Station, 20 miles north of Wellington, is the main centre for the investigation of animal diseases. Its sections deal with pathology, bacteriology, parasitology, biochemistry, and apiculture. A diagnostic section examines specimens sent in by veterinary surgeons and livestock instructors and collaborates in the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of stock ailments.

There is a maximum-security virus-transmission area near the station for diagnostic animal transmission of suspected exotic disease. Ruakura Animal Research Station, about 3 miles from Hamilton in the centre of a densely stocked dairying area, concentrates on the study of problems of animal husbandry, breeding, and nutrition, with particular stress on the interactions of grazing animals and pastures. This station has contributed greatly to present knowledge of these problems both in New Zealand and overseas. A diagnostic centre at Ruakura gives a service similar to that at Wallaceville.

Whatawhata, a hill country property 12 miles from Hamilton, is an out-station of Ruakura developed for the study of hill-farming problems. Manutuke, near Gisborne, is another outstation of Ruakura used mainly for studying field aspects of facial eczema and supplying material for pathological and biochemical studies of this disease. A diagnostic centre for the southern part of the South Island has been established at Taieri, near Dunedin.

by David William Caldwell, M.R.C.V.S., formerly Chief Advisory Officer (Animal Health), Department of Agriculture.