The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1910-10-08
TUBERCULOSIS IN CATTLE ANr 4oes.

Veterinarian. OKLAHOMA Experiment station,

Veterinarian, Oklahoma Experiment StatiOn)
Oklahoma will probably develop in an agricultural
way along the lines OF diversified farming and this
will in a great measure, mean the development OF
the dairy and live stock industry OF the live stock
industry in general too much not be said, and
II seems equally certain that dairyng win also be
come of the profitable lines OF industry in the
State Before that time arrives there will likely be
quite different grade OF catt as compared to what
we now have. Much Of the improved stock will be
used foundation stock to improve the dairy heards
and this stock will naturally come from the Northern
States, where the dairy business is well developed
tuberculosis not confined to any particular breed
OF cattle and the indscrminate buying OF foundation
stock in localities where large per cent of the cattle
are known to be diseased result In only thing,
that is the establishment Of the disease In new
localities
The presence Of tuberculosis In cattle is by no
means the My formidable loss to the stockman or
dalryman. Hogs easily infected with the disease.
contracting II readily either rom the milk or from
the droppngs Of the cattle. According to statistics
taken from reports OF the Bureau OF Animal Industry
there we're condemned in 1908 77,5S4 carcasses OF
hogs and 24S71 carcasses OF cattle account OF
tuberculosis The total number OF hogs condemned
during the past five years for this disease 33S73
carcasses and 1857 437 parts OF carcasses During the
same time there condemned 1883 carcasses OF
cattle and 41461 parts OF This represents
an enormous tax the live stock business and the
stock farmer and dairyman are paying the bill 1t Is
possible eradicate tuberculosis from any locality and
it is comparatively easy to prevent any general intro.
duction OF the disease into locality The tuber
culin test is reliable of determining whether
an animal has the disease not, and 1t does no
damage so far the test is concerned to either the
healthy diseased stock. II the test Is carefully
applied it will be found efficient in very high per
cent OF the tests. Some OF the more experienced OBJ
In this matter have estimated that in efficiency
the tubercuin test may be regarded as about SO per
cent reliable with an easy and reliable OF
detecting tuberculosis. should be able to control
this disease In Oklahoma. There Is certainly very
little OF the disease here now and this is especially
true OF the native cattle but with the Introduction OF
Northern bred stock the keeping OF large numbers Of
dairy cattle together and the close housing OF dairy
herds during the winter will be contributing factors
in the establishment OF dangerous disease.
No system Of agriculture can be profitable to the
highest degree In which live stock does not occupy
prominent place This sort OF farming is necessary
II the native fertility of the soil is to be maintained or
improved and the trend that agricultural eopment
Is now taking in the state indicates that stock farming
will become and common. The farmer
will feed more and of the grain raised on his
farm and to do this with profit he must have stoc
that is healthy and that win develop readily into
marketable condition.
II Is not nearly so important in Oklahoma to tes
dairy herds OF native cows It is to test COWS tha
are brought into the Sae from the Norh especia
those that come from pure bred herds. In recent
article by DR. Reynolds OF Wisconsin, In which he diss
cusses the question OF bovine tuberculosis he data
for the year ending August st 1908 showed mat they
had tested for that year 1929 head Of registered catez
and had found 400 head above SO per cent diseased
The number Of grade cattle tested 25ss7 and n
of these found 10 be tuhercuar DR.. Melvin, OF
the Bureau of Animal Industry has recently reportedS
900 tests made during the past fifteen WITH
the result that 925 per cent were found to be tuber
cular.
] study OF eh above data certainly 81 sufficient
cause for thought and study along these lines 1t Isl
likely that the pure bred herds in Wisconsin are
infected with tuberculosis to any greater extent than
those OF the surrounding states.
The following data taken from reports OF the U.
Department OF Agriculture. indicates In general weyt
the increase OF tuberculosis am6ny farm snmas Dur
! ing the past few Years: