The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1900-07-31
THE HEALTH OF THE DAIRY.

correspondent of The Progressive Farmer.
In many of the States there is a
great deal of agitation over the
spread of tuberculosis among cattle.
While this may be largely due to the
excitement always attendant upon
the discussion of a subject which is
not well understood, no one can
doubt that there really is an urgent
need of intelligent Investigation and
speedy action if we would avoid a
widespread scourge of this dreadful
disease, not only among Jul herds,
but among our families. Statistics
show that consumption is gaining
ground in the human family at a
fearful pace; and we as farmers
should be ready to do all in our
power to avert it.
am convinced that many farmers
~ignorantly and so perhaps not alto
gether i~nnOcently do much to favor
the spread of disease by the way
they keep their cattle. We have all
been stables which fairly reeked
with filth. Not long ago I read an
article, written in all seriousness
evidently, by a man who advocated
not cleaning the stables in the win
ter time for days at "a time, until a
load or mOr of manure had accumu-
lated upon the floor, the drift of his
argument being that then we could
draw out the manur most ~favOrably,
saving time and labor. Think of it !!
There the COWS would be shut up for
days, breathing over and over the
efluvia from their own drOppings,
and taking in at every breath the
germs Of disease.
Nor is this all. Lack of pure air
must inevitably bring about an IN
healthy condition. Many barns are
constructed without any apparent
thought of this necessary requisite.
True the modern sanitary barn makes
provision for ventilation as we'll as
for light. But where there is one
such barn there are a thousand
throughout the country in which alb
solutely nothing has been done to
secure a good supply of pure air.
Further, hundreds of tons of poor hay
are placed before the dairy COWS of
this country every year, and the
COWS must eat it or starve. Some of
this was spoiled in curing. Some of
it was burned in the NOV. It comes
out smoking and throwing out a dust
which causes the man who handles
it to cough and sneeze. This cannot
fail to affect the herd which eats it
U~nfavOrably. No human being could
eat such poOrly-prepared rations and
not contract disease. How can we
expect our COWS to do so?
Now, 1 make an earnest plea for
better treatment of the COWS of
America. And I make it not only
because [ believe the good of the
COWS themselves is concerned, but
for the more important reason that
the health and happiness of the men,
women and children of the country
are vitality interested. Let US as
farmers faithfully resolve that we
will make our barns conform to truly
sanitary rules. This will mean that
we will give our cows plenty of light,
warmth, and cleanliness. We will
put before them only good feed. We
will keep their quarters clean at all
times. We will give them every day
a chance to get the fresh out of doors
air. We will see that they have
pure water and plenty of it. We
will treat them as we ourselves would
like to be treated under similar con.
ditiOns. All this means a great
change in the methods some of u.
employ at present, but as long as we
appoint ourselves the guardians Of
these creatures is it not our duty r.
D be fair them? By so doing we shall
: advance our own interests. and hat
II nothing else should inspire in II,
: the disposition TO deal honestly will
t our herds. 4 I, 49, ~