Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-11-16

VI lilcSt dHIllldlS were DullS INTENDED
to be placed at the head of some herd.
The section of this new law which
required owners of full blodS to fur
nish tuberculin test for all cattle
sold, gave the commission an oppor-
tunity to find out the conditions of the
lull blood herds of Maine. Previous
to this most of our work had been in
the grade herds.
during the first two years. 1905 and
l9o6. of operation of this law, 935 pure
Dl"od cattle were tested, 1870 being
condemned. or 20 per cent. out of 1876
herds. This was the first concentrated
effort to control the disease How
well we have succeeded can be shown
by quoting from the report of 1909,
when the test Of pure bloods showed
"llE three and one-half per cent.
diseased.
during the years 1905 and 1906 the
city authorities of Portland required
the testing of all cows furnishing milk
to the city. This neeSsitated the test
ing of 5000 COWS. Three hundred or
b per cent. of this number were con-
demncd This extra business together
with the new law which We. call THE
pure ROOD law, very largely Increased
the business for 1905 and 1906 Dur
'n2 these two years 1924 animals or an
average oil So year were condemned
costing $6l.302. or $30.631 per YEAR
Inc Legislature of 1907 passed a law
whereby all cattle shipped from Maine
to Brighton and condemned for tuber-
culcsis, the shipper could secure pay
N ciS l.,
in the State.
In 1907 Mr.. Bradford, manager Of
w" urner Center Dairying ASsocia-
lloh oIlefed one cent per pound more
Tor butter from tuberculin tested COWS
| MS mad tendency to increase the
business. Many dairymcn wanted their
cows tested for this extra cent
IN l90I-0S 1906 animals were de-
stroyed. an average of 953 yearly. cost
| ing $72,174.
me Legislature of 1909 changed the
iaW from paying onc-half the appraisal
- luil appraisal, not exceeding $50
'iSo requiring all cattle exhibited at
t2e state fairs for breeding purposes
| q" ne tuberculin tested. The result
VAS a very large business for 1908.
-" animals costing $64,99S were con-
Hcnncd and during this year. 25.00O
we're tested
so much for the past. What of tbe
| Itnrc? 1t would be a very bad THING
I" stop or retard the work against
bovine tuberculosis. In fact we sbould
:" more progressive in the fight. There
| 'rc some changes that should be made
~ me law | will mention them as
they occur to me
would have all rcacting cattle
slaughtered under inspection. accord
| lnS to the United States government
inspection, and that, you know. means
that slightly affected animals would
| De- passed for market
Inc disinfecting should be done bv
!"cal boards of health There should
e meat inspection law In relation
I" tn" personnel of the cattle commits
SION, | have heard various opinions
Some saying That nnc-man cor;mis
| SION would be preferable. | also under
stand that the Vcternaries arc 10 mako
al effort t. have a commission of vet
crnarIcs. / have heard the idea ad
Nanced that it would be better 10
create department under the com
missioner of agriculture similar to ;hc
dairy department.
Before closing it might be- interest
| ing to give the results of my own work
| IN testing cattl" for the past year. AS
| nav" been in different parts of TIN"
State and tested both grades and full
hl""ds. my book shows that I have
| tested 925 cattle Ninety Of these have
, reacted, or about 10 per cent.