Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-12-18
#tiseellantous Readina.
CATTLE TICK ERADICATION.
Interesting Report Filed BY State Vet
erinarian.

Interesting Report Filed BY State Vet
erinarian.
That South Carolina loses each year
at least 5000 900 by reason Of the Texas
fever tick among the cattle and that
the great obstacles to be overcome in
the eradication of the tick Is the in
difference and ignorance Of the cattle
owners, are the two most striking
statements in the report of DR.. NJ. Ray
Powers, state veterinarian, prepared for
the department of agriculture Of this
state.
Last year the four counties bordering
on the national quarantine line, Oco-
nee, Pickens, Greenville and Anderson,
were placed under quarantine and the
inspectors proceeded to get rid Of the
ticks. The people call the inspectors
tick pickers," though DR.. Powers does
not say so in his report
The work Is being carried on through
the cooperation Of the state and Fed
eral authorities, the state veterinarian
there were four inspectors and two
veterinarians from the Federal bureau
of animal industry at work in these
four counties. These inspectors" says
DR.. Powers, were instructed to make
farm to- farm inspections, examine all
cattle and quarantine those premises
found infested with fever ticks. They
were also instructed to explain to the
owners of all infested cattle the object
Of the work. the law under which the
work was being conducted, the method
Of tick eradication most applicable to
their individual premises and to give
the owners all possible assistance in
the work"
Daily reports were received from
these inspectors, giving names Of own
ers of premises inspected, the number
Of cattle on each farm and their con-
dition, infested or free. The inspectors
reinspect the farms every three weeks,
and all reports are kept on file, so
there is complete record preserved.
II from the reports the attitude Of a
cattle owner IS seen to be neglectful,
letter is sent him and If necessary
veterinarian is sent to explain the work
more fully. When these methods fall
the cattle owner Is prosecuted II he
moves the quarantined cattle.
In Oconee during 1907 there were -
= 81 nd n
ed; in Pickens 1888 inspected and 791
quarantined; in Greenville 1926 in
spected and 1,173 quarantined; in An
derson 12,S45 inspected and 1851 quar-
antined. On many of these premises
the ticks were eradicated during the
fall Of 1907, but they were not released
from quarantine until spring. Then the
four counties were released from quar-
antine Professionally, the owners be-
ing thus enabled to ship cattle any
where in the United States after in
spection by Federal inspector. Many
have taken advantage Of this" says DR..
Powers, "and are now shipping their
cattle to the northern markets without
restrictions and thus receiving bet
ter price for their stock than hereto
fore"
In June of this year eight additional
counties were placed in quarantine:
Abbeville, Greenwood, Laurens, Union,
Cherokee, Spartanburg, Chester and
York. Fourteen inspectors in the en-
ploy of the Federal bureau and five in
the employ Of Clemson were at work
during the summer in this territory,
following the same methods used last
year in the first four counties.
Many premises now in quarantine"
says Dr. Powers, ARE free from ticks,
but must be held until the advent Of
warm weather to ascertain this posi-
lively" In Abbeville 9,S73 cattle were
inspected and 2,647 quarantined; in
greenwood 6,993 inspected and 1,491
quarantined; in Laurens S,408 inspected
and 70S quarantined; in Union 4,1S7 In
spected and 22S quarantined; in Spar
tanburg 6,O95 inspected and 1,454 quar-
antined; in Cherokee 3,173 inspected
and SIT quarantined; in York 6,276
inspected and 2,255 quarantined; in
Chester 5,370 inspected and 1,163 quar-
antined. In addition considerable work
has also been done this year in the
territory covered last year. Twelve
inspectors and one Federal veterinarian,
as we'll as the state veterinarian and
his assistant, will be employed in the
counties named throughout the winter.
rom July l, 1907, to July l, 1908,
there was expended in this work the
sum of $3,SS2 appropriated by the
Clemson college trustees and $4,000 by
the bureau Of animal industry; from
July |. 1908, to July |, 1909. there has
been appropriated $4,000 by the Glenn
son trustees and $4,000 by the bureau.
THE great obstacle to be overcome"
concludes Dr.. Powers, "is the indiffer-
ence and ignorance of the cattle own
erS"