The river press., 1904-12-07
AFFECTING LIVESTOCK INTERESTS.

A convention that has been called to
meet in Denver early in January, for
the consider alton of government regu-
lations relating to mango or scabies
among cattle, will be an event OF in.
terest to Montana stockmen. The
committee which has called the con-
vention represents a large number of
western cattlemen who believe the pres
ent regulati are not necessa ary, and
who will endeavor to have them so
amended by the bureau Of animal in.
dustry as to more reasonably fit the
conditions that exist.
Seattle mango, scabies or itch, has
been known on the western ranges for
many years." the committee says in
its CALL ut is not fatal disease,
though contagious to certain extent.
While no one will deny the right of
the department of agriculture to com.
pei the cattle owners to take such steps
as will ultim ately lead to the stamping
out of the Infection, those who have
had the experience of the past two
years OF federal and state regulations,
believe hat the time has come when
the cattle owners themselves should
take hand and strive to induce the
authorities to so amend the regula-
tions as to stamp out the disease with
out bringing complete ruin to the in
dustry. We maintain that the nature
of the disease is not serious enough to
make it necessary TO be treated as a
fatal contagion, such as Texas fever,
or foot and mouth disease, and tn at
the commercial necessities in relation
to the movement of our cattle should
be given some consideration.
''It is believed that it is possible to
very greatly improve the conditions
in rel elation to this matter and the at
tendance of cattlemen from the Pan
handle Of Texas, New Mexico, eastern
Colorado, western Kansas, western
Nebraska, the Dakotas, Wyoming
u.
This is strictly business matter and
the larger the attendance, the more
certain will be beneficial results.
GAS the federal regulations will
stand on Dec. l, no cattle can be
moved by rail from any exposed ter.
ritory unless the same shall have first
been dipped at least once. Railroad
companies threaten to refuse to re-
ceive any cattle from infected dis.
tricts, and as these districts cover
large areas, it means a practical
quarantine Of western range CATTLE"
The views of this committee as to
the comparatively harmless nature of
the disease are corroborated by the
experience of Montana stockmen.
Mango has been prev alent to some
extent on many Montana ranges for
the past twenty years or more, and
while it is q symptom Of unhealthy
conditions among the herds it has
never been considered serious detri-
ment to the welfare of the industry.
The government ulations, as they
now stand, require the dipping of all
cattle that have been exposed to the
disease as we'll as animals that are
suffering from it, Compliance with
this order will require a roundup of
most of the range cattle in the state
to ascertain their condition, the build
ing of dipping plants at various
points, and other work necessitating
endless trouble and expense. Cattle
that have not beeu thus inspected or
treated, according to government reg
ulations, will not be permitted to 60
to market next season.
1t is very drastic measure for the
suppression of what is considered a
malady of such a harmless nature.
Montana stockmen are interested in
having the rules modified, and will
doubtless be we'll represented at the
Denver convention called to take
action in the matter.