Have we been sold a dud batch of rabbit virus?

RABBITPLAGUED farmers have been told to be patient.

But the K5 virus spread on 100 sites throughout Otago has not worked.

My Lowburn property was one of the first sites to get the K5 virus seven weeks ago today.

I have only praise for the dedication and skill the Otago Regional Council employee had to get the viruscoated carrots spread out in an area of very high rabbit numbers.

We both inspected the site two days later and then nearly every day since and, like all other sites I know of, have not seen one dead rabbit.

A year ago when the RHD K5 virus was released in Australia, it was said to be very potent and quick acting.

The K5 batch that was imported from Australia and released here must have been dead or very weak.

There is still time to import a fresh batch and get it out before winter. The Otago Regional Council environmental department needs to come up to speed or the farmers might have to take charge as they did 20 years ago, releasing the original very successful RHD virus.

Landcare Research must work harder and find out why this batch did not work.

Rabbit numbers this coming spring will be as high as 21 years ago if the K5 strain continues to be a failure.

D. A. Young

Cromwell