The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1908-04-24

thei- calves arc give milk nearly as
we'll as il they were not diseased. and
yet. strange as it may seem, such ami
mails are the ones that generally
spread the disease to healthy indi-
vtduaIs.
Many Objections.
Many of the objections to both the
Bang and slaughter methods can be OBJ
Waited by h farmer and breeder by
leasing their t~ubercu!ous breeding cat
tie to the state or county upon the IN
crease plan. The plan in general would
De as follows: To have specially ar
ranged farms in various sections Of the
state or In each county If necessary.
In this connection it might be stated
tina most counties now have a farm
commonly known as the poor farm. a
portion Of which might be set aside
FOR this purpose. In case his should
not be practical. another farm could
be secured by purchase or lease. h
state veterinarian should test all herds
that are known to be infected or hat
the owner might request to have tested.
and upon completion of the test all
tuberculous animals OF special breed
ing qualities. but free from physical
symptoms of the disease. should be at
once removed to the county farm. while
those showing physical symptoms OF
the disease or that do not have valu-
able breeding qualities. could be sold
for slaughter under the usual condi-
tons. thereby at once removing all
tubercu!ous cattle from the farm.
stables. etc. TO be disinfected. The
reason for slaughtering the cattle that
have no special breeding qualities and
those presenting physical symptoms Of
the disease, is self-evident-such cattle
would not pay for their keep.
1T would be immaterial. so far as the
general plan is concerned. whether the
state does or does not give compensa-
ton for the stock tina is slaughtered.
May Be Exceptions.
I'm advocating this plan I am aware
that some will take exception to 1t on
the ground that the tendency will be
for some parties to make political cap
ital out of it.: that 1t will be TOO ex-
~pensive: that competent men cannot be
found to manage such herds: that good
results cannot be obtained with such
stock: thai the right types Of animals
will not be mated. etc, etc. In reply
to such criticism 1t can be stated. with
out fear of successful contradiction.
eradicate this disease until the Items
Of politics and expense are eliminated.
tuberculosis will have full sway so long
as any susceptible cattle are in exist
ence. Or, to put it in another way.
tuberculosis is so widespread and so
prevalent. 1t enters more or less init
mately into so many different phases OF
u national business that 1t Is inpos-
sible to make any general attempt to
control or prevent its spreading with
out government aid. INC when this is
asked, the political pot begins to boil.
"Regarding the interference 1t might
cause with the plans and ideals of
some breeders. it must be granted that
it might temporarily check line breed
ing, but 1t should he remembered that
If but a small per cent OF the herd were
affected, while it might retard develop
ment. 1T would not destroy 1t. On the
other hand. IL a majority of the herd
We're affected the line breeding could
he followed with the cattle in the
county herd. at any rate the Interior
ence would not be so great as though
all the affected cattle were slaugh-
tered"