Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-07-17
TUBERCULOSIS IN HOGS
Report of the Bureau of Animal
Industry United States De-
partment of Agriculture.

Reports gathered from the various
meat packing centers of this country
shoW tuberculosis of hogs to be on the
increase and causing heavier loss to
raiser and packer alike than any other
disease.
Statistics show that a year ago there
were over 100000 hogs in this coun-
try and their value at that time was
over 1888, 100000. Federal inspection at
The abattoirs of the country show per
cent of the hogs slaughtered to be
ffected with tuberculosis Reports
from Europe show far more wide-
spread Infection that runs as hi. i as
b.5 to 7.5 per cent.
The small amount of money! required
70 start in the hog-raising business and
The quick returns on the amount in
vested make it an attractive field for
operations. Hogs will make greater
gains on less feed than almost any
Dther live stock and at the same time
htlilze proftably waste food products
pI every variety il properly prepared
AS tuberculosis of hogs is chiefly con-
fracted through feeding, the signifi-
cance OF the latter feature is obvious.
hogs from Arkansas, Oklahoma and
Iexas are remarkably free from tuber-
culos1s, due to the methods of CARING
for them, or rather the lack of care
They are not restricted to feed lots
where disease is commonly found, but
roam over large areas to shift for
themselves. No prolonged feeding is
practiced in narrow limits, but from
birth to maturity they are pastured on
alfalfa, oats, corn, rape and peanuts
Hogs raised in the forest regions of
Hungary are likewise rarely affected
with tuberculosis. In striking contra ST
are the hogs slaughtered at three cities
In one of the leading dairy states where
there are a large number of cooper
alive creameries and the raw SKINNED
milk is fed.
Buyers for packing houses are learn
Ing from bitter experience to avoid
sections of certain states and two firms
will not buy hogs from one state known
to be badly infected
An investigation carried on by the
Bureau of Animal Industry in a certain
section of the middle west consisted OF
tagging hogs hauled to market in
wagons. OF 1920 animals tagged il
was learned that all of the affected
stock came from less than per cent
of the farms.
1t is known beyond doubt that the
majority of tuberculous hogs are pro
duced by the following causes:
1. Feeding raw milk and slime from
creameries.
2. Feeding hand-separated milk from
tuberculous cows.
8. Feeding behind tuberculous cattle
i 4. Feeding tuberculous carcasses.
S. Feeding slaughter house offal.
Sooner or later the packer will buy
subject to post-mortem examination
as some are now doing with certain
classes of female cattle. Then the hog
raiser who persists in fattening with
tuberculous material will be made to
feel the cost of his Indifference or lack
of knowledge. To-day the buyer makes
his purchases with the knowledge that
proportion of his animals will be
condemned and the price fixed accord
ingly, with the result that the careful
breeder suffers with the careless one
This is not equitable. But when the
packer buys subject to post mortem
results the painstaking and intelligent
raiser will receive more than he does
now and the ignorant or indifferent
breeder will get less, which is more
nearly a fair deal for all concerned.