The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1900-02-16

cattle dying from Texas fever. This
means is not always possible in Infected
territory and requires more care and at
tention than most men viii give In order
to make II successful but II this method
is carefully followed out there can be no
danger OF loss, but the slightest negli-
gence An ghe way of introducing an in
footed animal into such pasture would
soon infect the pasture and probably most
OF the cattle In the pasture This method
of placing cat;ae susceptible animals) on
pastures free from infection and keeping
the animals from coming In contact with
Infection is the only means OF absolutely
preventing Texas fever. Such method
Of handling cattle will not become immu-
nifty and is OF little value so far as the
general distribution Of cattle among stock
men is concerned.
The Missouri Experiment station con-
Quoted some experiments to determine the
protective value of blood serum from
southern cattle when inoculated into sus.
ceptible catfe but 80 far as practical re-
suits are negative.
X appears that experimentally the only
way to produce immunity is 10 produce
a mld form OF the disease either by in.
fecting the animal with ticks or by inOc-
ulation with a small quantity OF the blood
from an immune animal which win con.
tain the micro parasite causing the dis
ease. The method of producing immunity
by tick infection is not as reliable in its
general results as could be desired and
will hardly be practiced 10 any extent as
can be obtained by using the blood from
a southern animal.
II :Ick infection IS used at all Il should
be practiced in the late fall as the disease
win assume a much milder from at this
season than at any other time OF the year.
and II the infection Is mild the disease
may be controlled to a certain limit.
The recent publication Of a bulletin from
the Texas and Missouri Experiment sta
tons has added new Interest 20 the meth
cd OF producing immunity by blood inocu-
lation as the record OF a number OF teats
made in a commercial way are given. The
fact that the incubation OF immune blood
intp susceptible animals promises to be a
valuable remedy to prey ent a fatal form
of Texas fever IN animals shipped south
shoulj not cause anyone to regard the
method of being safe under ail conditions
or one that can be successfully carried
out by every one who undertakes the
work. There are certain essential things
TO observe in connection with blood in
oculation and TO neglect any OF them 10
to cause possible failure in the entire
work From work already reported Il is
certain that the cattle from seven to
twelve months old are TO be preferred.
This age or even as young as six months
Is preferable to bring south regardless OF
the method TO be used in rendering them
immune Whether they are to be turned
on infected pastures late in the season
and receive no further attention or n they
are TO be infected artlhicially with dcks
or to be inoculated with blood the young
cattle are 10 be preferred TO mature ones
The method OF securing ghe blood and
injecting n into the cattle are details
easily understood by those familiar with
similar work. The effect OF the inocula-
Sion In a majority Of cases is to cause a
mild form OF the fever but IN some the
fever may prove fatal. The effect OF the
inoculatlon to render the animal immune
TO fever cannot be compared 10 the effect
of vaccinating 70 prevent black-leg In cat
tie.
In the latter case no notlceable~symp
toms follow the operation while In the
former every symptom Of the fever is seen
and the calves will often require every
attention and frequently medical treat
ment I'm order 10 resist the disease. Az
ter the cattle are inoculated with blood
I they should be well cared for a year and
II possible exposed 10 a Night tick Infection
the hrst summer.
InOculatlon may De performed al any
time ~ the year but In our climate the
best results VIII probably be obtained by
4 inocu'ating during the winter of spring
anl giving the cattle some extra attention
the first summer They may be inocu-
lated either before or after being ship
ped south, but the latter method viii be
preferable / think. allowing the calves to
become accustomed 70 their feed and sur
noundings before they are inoculated.
/ Further work along this line will prob
ably change 10 some extent the detail
OF the work but the method IN the present
stage offers every inducement 20 The
southern breeder to ship to the southern
stock farm and ranch the best breeds Of
I cattle found ia the north.