New-York tribune., 1907-03-31
CATTLE TUBERCULOSIS.
Losses from the Disease to Farmers
Are Large.

In regard 10 the losses 10 farmers from tuber-
culOsis in cattle. the committee on the preven-
ton Of tuberculosis makes public this statement:
Il is a difficult matter to estimate with any
approach to accuracy the losses from a disease
Ike tuberculosis. concerning which the statistics
are incomplete in every respect. There are now
however, approximately 1000 carcasses of beef
and $4,000 carcasses Of hogs condemned each
year by the federal meat inspectors account
or tuberculosis. We should not be far wrong
IN estimating the loss on these carcasSes at
present prices as $40 each on the beef and $12
saen on the pork according 10 the United States
Department of Agriculture We should. there
fore, have as the net annual loss from the con-
demnatlon OF carcasses $4,000 for beef and
10000 for pork, or a total Of sl.22O.OOO This
statement. however, does not include the 647
parts OF beef carcasses and the l42,I05 parts Of
hog cereasses which II was necessary last year
30 condemn for the same cause and the ap-
pFOXimate value Of which cannot be ascertaned.
federal inspectors, there are a considerable num-
Der condemned by state and municipal in
speetors. These are mostly carcasses of dairy
cattle killed IN the work Of suppressing tubercu-
losiE, OF COWS no longer profitable in the
dairy which are sent for slaughter TO the smaller
aoattoirs. The aggregate number OF these has
not been ascertained, but in some years IL has
amounted 10 several thousand carcasses
The losses TO the dairy industry from tuber-
culosls have been enormous from decrease in
milk and depreciation and death OF animals.
The dairy herds have been affected to a greater
extent than any others, and the infection as a
rule spread through the COWS OF a herd until so
20 so per cent OF the animals were affected In
the early stages Of the disease the product of the
COWS IS not visibly lessened. but as the tuber-
cular process develops the animals often become
feverish. their milk is diminished in quantity,
and they lose flesh and are no longer profitable.
The losses from shrinlage Of the milk and from
ihe destruction OF so many cows must be tre-
menoous. but II has never been definitely de-
teTmined.
An extremely serious phase Of this subject
is the effect OF the disease IN destroying valuable
FAMILIES OF cattle and blood lines which can
never be renewed. In most Of the breeds there
are certain families strains OF blood which
have been developed by long and skilful selec-
tion and which represent the one marked sue
cess In breeders life. The Representative
animals OF such q strain are generally few IN
number ana may all be IN one herd Under
such circumstances the introduction Of tubercu-
4osls has OFTEN meant the annihilation OF the
strain ana the blotting out of the achievements
or lifetime OF toll and study. Such lo=ves can
scarcely be measured in dollars and cents. but
they are no less real and no less serious as an
obstacle 20 the development of the cattle in
custFy.
The influence upon our export trade OF regu-
latiOns relative 20 tuberculosis viii rrohabI,,
become more and more unfavorable BREEDING
and dairy cattle for Canada and Argentina
must now be tested and found free from the
disease before they viii be admitted. The ten
regulations, and any considerable increase in
the prevalence OF the disease would have an
unfaVOrable effect upon the sale Of live animals
sneats and dairy products. even If burdensOme
regulations were not imposed To meet sue
cessfully the increasing competition in the mar
kets OF the world IL Is important 20 have prod
Ccrs which u can be shown are produced from
healthy animals and which do not carry dam
ger OK any kind 70 the health cf the consumer