The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1911-11-09
The Tuberculin Test
for Cattle in Michigan
BY WARD GILTNER,
State Veterinarian

At times state or municipal regula-
tons have forced cattle owners to sub
NIT their herds to the tuberculin test.
Interstate trade in breeding or dairy
cattle requires that the shipment be
accompanied by tuberculin test. Cat
tie breeders generally do not object to
this testing of cattle for interstate
shipm ent, but there is very great OPP
position to enforced state or local
tuberculin testing. 1t is not our pur-
pose to discuss this phase of the sub
! ject. We wish here to present to the
farmers of Michigan review of the
methods and means by which they
may avail themselves of the tubercu-
lin test when they have voluntarily
decided to have the same made, or
when the shipping Of cattle for breed
ing or other purposes makes a test
necessary.
We have always believed that the
progressive farmer, for his own finan-
cial interest If not from reasons OF
pride, is ever anxious to anticipate
legislation or coercive measures in
the matter of sanitation. The SAM
tary ideal requires the tuberculin test
of every cow supplying milk for hui
man consumption in any of it's forms,
whether as milk, cream, butter, cheese
or other milk preparations. The pure
food agitation is tending to force the
farmer to approach this ideal; the
| farmers own interests suggest the ad-
visibility of voluntarily making the
test.
To those who have no other reason
for making the test than desire to
know the condition of their herds as
to tuberculosis, we will say that this
test can be applied in one of two
ways. Either of these ways necessi-
tates having the test made by one who
is trained to do this work. The grad
uate of a recognized veterinary col
lege licensed to practice in Michigan
should be able to make the test for
you. In order to make it possible for
more farmers to avail themselves of
the test, the laboratory of bacteriology
at M. A. G.. has undertaken to train
competent agricultural students to
make the tuberculin test under the
supervision of the laboratory, and
there are now a considerable number
of such young men who have satisfac-
torily made tests both on their own
and on neighbors' herds. To either of
| these classes of men, the veterinarian
or the agricultural student trained as
! indicated above, the laboratory OF bac-
teriology will furnish the tuberculin
! and the charts for recording the tenn
perature and other data without
charge. The only requirements are
that the work be properly done and
that a record Of the test be returned
| to the laboratory.
Requests frequently come to us for
information as to how an official tu-
berculin test of cattle Cor mallein test
Of horses) can be secured to meet the
requirements of officials in other
states to which such animals are to be
sent or taken. Michigan provides a
state veterinarian, or, more correctly,
she provides a state veterinarian, but
does not outline his duties very clear
! ly or comprehensively. However,
certain other states require that the
state veterinarian of Michigan shall
indorse all tests or health certificates
of horses or cattle shipped from
Michigan into those states. At the
present, the state veterinarian is also
a member of the staff of the labora-
tory of bacteriology at M. A. G.
Anyone wishing to have an official
test made of cattle or horses for ship
ment into other states should secure
the services Of a local veterinarian
who is a graduate Of recognized vet
Urinary college and licensed to prac-
tice in Michigan, and have him send
to the state veterinarian at East Lam
sing for tuberculin or mallein for the
number of cattle or horses to be test
ed. The material will be sent without
expense to either the veterinarian or
the owner Of the stock. After the test
is made, the charts should be returned
Immediately to the state veterinarian
who will indorse them, if properly
made out, and return to the proper
party.
Correspondence relative to this mat
ter will receive careful attention.
| Cahhages NAV be successfully kept