The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1907-04-04
SHEEP scAeIEs.
How Successful Battle Against This
Troublesome Disease Was Fought.


A few complaints have come from
Wyoming to the effect that sheep
scabies has broken out in some Sec
tions of the state. Investigation shows
that there is no cause for alarm IL
prompt measures are taken and vigi-
lance exercised in the future Some
infected sheep were trailed in from
Montana, but these were promptly APP
pretended by authorities, treated and
cured. A short time ago 1SS bucks
wese brought into the state from Can
ada. The importer was heavily fined.
and the sheep dipped From reliable
sources, says Orange Judd Farmer, it
is claimed there is no infection OF
scabies in Wyoming at present, al
though a few flocks in Albany county
were exposed and are in quarantine.
These sheep will be dipped next
spring.
The government, through its bureau
of animal industry, undertook to Grad
icate scabies in Wyoming in 1904. At
that time the state was practically one
mass Of scab. For several years sheep
owners had been sorting the sheep not
infected and shipping them out. This
kept the disease at home with the re-
suit that nearly every band was badly
infected AS a result of the govern
ment campaign it is claimed that last
spring there were not 250 actual cases
OF infection in the whole state at
shearing time, ard these were isolated.
During 1905 the authorities have in
spected 6,TS3,372 sheep in Wyoming,
including range inspections and sheep
in transit.
The following table shows the mum.
Der of sheep dipped under federal su.
pervision in Wyoming the past three
years. In 1904 and 1905 the figures are
nearly all for infected sheep. In 1906
the data includes 202, ,770 free sheep.
1t is notable that this year infected
bands average only one to a dozen
head of diseased sheep each. It is be-
lieved by some flockmasters that the
state board of sheep commissioners
should more thoroughly police the
commonwealth so as to prevent the
importation of infected sheep.
FEDERAL DIPPING IN WYOMING.
Year. Head.
1906 ......................... 49l,
lsOO lVZZ,4l5
1904 ,3l6,434
Good Conditions in Arizona.
In Arizona the condition of flocks
from the sanitary standpoint is very
satisfactory. Two years ago upon in
spection about So per cent of the flocks
of the state were found to be infected
with scabies Immediately after this
inspection the sheep were dipped un-
der the supervision of the bureau of
animal industry. During 1906 another
inspection of all sheep in Arizona was
conducted, and only per cent Of in
fection was found. After the last dip
ping this season it was claimed that
scakies had been practically eradi-
Gated from flocks of Arizona.
In New Mexico the sanitary condi-
tion of sheep is much better than four
years ago. At that time it was not
unusual to find scabies in the advanced
stage. while at present an advanced
case is a rare thing. The amount of
infection In the southern half of the
territory is very small, probably less
than per cent. Four years ago at
a conservative estimate, 80 per cent Of
the flocks in that part of New Mexico
were affected.
AS no general dipping was conduct
ed during the past year in the north
ern half of the territory, the percent
age of infection is somewhat larger.
The sanitary board of New Mexico is
hopeful that the federal government
will take charge of the work of sheep
dipping in the territory. In the states
of Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas, Texas,
Louisiana and Oklahoma, scabies,
while not entirely eradicated, is COM
pletely under control OF authorities.
and all outbreaks are isolated.