The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1914-06-19
PROGRESS AND RESULTS OF
CATTLE-TICK ERADICATION

In order to obtain comprehensive
and practical information in regard 10
the result Of the work of tick eradlct-
ton which has been in progress IN the
South and Southwest since l906, the
work being conducted jointly by the
United States Department OF Agrl-
culture and the State and county au-
thorities within the area quarantlned
for Texas fever, a circular letter was
| recently widely distributed letter was
stockmen and farmers in eleven states
in the territory bordering on the quar-
antine line. The replies were for the
most part highly appreciatiye, OF the
work accomplished and of the DEMENT'S
derived therefrom IN those sections
which had been cleared of ticks.
Over 1000 replies were received in
all the number from each state being
Alabama, %; Arkansas, 1874; Califor-
MIA. 80; Georgia, II; Mississippi, 356;
North Carolina, 81; Oklahoma, l45;
South Carolina, 27; Tennessee, III;
Texas. 50; Virginia. "a The follow
ing is a brief summary of the intor-
nation elected:
Increase in Value of Cattle Since
Eradication Began in 1906
Some replies expressed the increase
in percentage, but the bulk Of them
gave the increase in monetary value
per head. Upon averaging these for
each State, the sums varied from $40
per head for Alabama to Sl5 per head
for California, and the weighted av-
erage for the eleven states iG 1915
per head.
Increase in Weight of Cattle
The great majority Of the replies
stated there was u substantial increase
in the weight of cattle subsequent to
the clearing of the ticks. The aver
age for the States ranged from II per
cent in Texas to % per cent in Missis-
sippi, and the average per cent Of
gain for the entire tick-free territory
was 1914. In other words, the cattle
as whole are considered to be about
ne-fifth heavier.
Increase in Quality of Cattle
The replies concerning the increase
in the grade or quality of the cattle
since the tick eradication were con-
siderably more flattering than those
pertaining to the increase in weight.
The lowest State average was is per
cent for Georgia, and the highest 81
per cent for Mississippi. The average
for the IL States was 26.9l per cent
which means that the cattle in the
tick-free sections at present are rath-
err over one-fourth better in grade or
quality than they were under quaran-
tine conditions. This is proof, if proof
were needed, that the Improbable
scrub" and the tick go together, and
that when the latter is banished and
not until then, is the influx of pure
bred animals on large and profitable
scale possible. 1'1 Oil.
Annual Losses Before Tick Eradica-
ton.
There is practically unanimity in
stating that considerable losses were
caused by Texas fever before the in
auguration of the tick work. The
figures range from 9per cent IN Geor-
gia to Is per cent in Mississippi and
North Carlonia, and the average for
the IL States is - per cent. This is
n trifle over one-eighth of the total
cattle. pt vie
1t requires but little inauguration
to see what a serious handicap to the
cattle industry of the South an an
nual loss of this magnitude must be.
Some idea of it's extent may be had
by taking the census figures for cat
tie in 1910. According to these there
were in round numbers 100000 900 cat
tie below the Texas-fever quarantine
line, with valuation Of slightly over
S270, 100000. One-eighth of this sum
is $34 100000, which represents rough
ly the annual loss from deaths alone,
not counting the depreciation in num-
Gus other ways. such as stunted grow
tn, discrimination in markets, shrink !
age in milk production, etc, all of
which will more than double the am
cunt named. ftt.
Increase in Cattle Industry Since Re-
moval of Quarantine
AS might be expected, the answer
to this question, with few exceptions,
is affirmative, there being 9S4 who |
answered Eyes, against 30 to the con-
trary. 1t may be remarked, too, that
some of the latter were expressed as
mot yet, implying that not sufficient
time had elapsed since the raising of
the quarantine to warrant more def
mite reply. fil's
Increase in Pure-Bred Cattle
There were 929, or 81 per cent of
all the replies that stated there was
an increase in improved blood. This