The Farmer's Experience : South West England

Extract

We have had recommended to us to-day a number of measures than we can take to control and eliminate mastitis. I have not done the things that Dr. Stableforth told us we could do. I had to determine whether in my own particular circumstances, in the state of health or disease in which my herd was at the time and was likely to be in the future, in the light of the degree of supervision I could give to my herd management and with the particular circumstances of labour at my disposal, and all the other relevant factors, I should embark on a policy of eradication or whether I should tolerate the disease.

There is, obviously not one answer for every person. It must depend on each person's circumstances. But I think in regard to these circumstances and considerations that I have mentioned I am more fortunately placed, possibly, than the average farmer, with the single exception of the amount of time I can give to supervision. My labour is above the average in intelligence; my cattle are above the average in health; they are above the average in their state of nutrition. When I weighed up these factors, my decision was, rightly or wrongly, that I should tolerate the disease and not attempt to eradicate it.