Those farmers in the North who have been suffering from the ravages of foot-and-mouth disease will be able to sympathise with their colleagues in Kenya, where, I am told, disease is so rife that all cattle are compulsorily dipped, just as sheep are dipped in these islands, once a fortnight.
One of the chief pre-occupations of the Kenya farmer, therefore, is to discover which types of cattle are least susceptible to disease.
Commander Frank Gilliland, of Derry, who has made a study of cattle diseases in various parts of the world, tells me that he pins his faith to red-polled cattle, which he re-introduced a couple of years ago into Northern Ireland.
Some years ago, several herds of this type existed in Ireland, but, apart from one which I believe exists in County Monaghan, I know now of none other than Commander Gilliland's, despite the stimulus which has been offered by North-West of Ireland Agricultural Show in providing special classes in the last two years for this type.
Now that Northern farmers have had drastic experience of diseases amongst their herds, they may, however, be inclined to experiment with any species which promises even the slightest increase in immunity.
The Irish Times, July 3rd, 1931.