New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1915-10-30

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dippings, however, are not
enough to insure permanent
eradication, because new seed
ticks from infested pastures ana
premises attack the cattle atresh.
For this reason dipping is con-
tinued at intervals of two weeks
for four months or more, the final
result being COMPLETE elimina-
ton of the entire breed.
An Effective Method.
This method is not only more
effective, but is in the end cheap
er and simpler than such practices
as spraying. pasture rotation and
similar precautions. which may
diminish the evil temporarily,
but do not effect permanent
cure. The success of dipping is
dependent. however, upun the CO.
operation of the entire commun-
ity, for one neglected herd will
in time reinfect it's ncighbors.
That this cooperation can be
secured if the situation is once
thoroughly understood there is
little doubt. In Texas, 2S,805
square miles have now been freed
from quarantine. The average
cost has been only 1925 per
square mile, and the returns ex-
ceeded this. small sum to a degree
that it is impossible to estimate"
Comparison of Values.
In this connection, however,
although other factors unques-
tionably enter into the problem,
it is instructive to compare the
average values of beef cattle over
2 years old in tick-free areas with
those in thick-infested areas.
Texas had a higher average at
the beginning of this year than
any of the other tick-infested
States, but this average Of $40 a
head compared most unavorably
with the average of $65 in Wyom-
ing, $50 in Montana, $50 in Ohio
and Illinois and $54 in Iowa, Ne
braska, Kansas and Colorado. In
the other tick-infested States the
difference Us much more striking.
In Florida and Georgi the ave-
rage on Jan. l was only $18 a
head. in Alabama it was 500. in
Mississippi $22 and in Louisiana
$24. i.
A similar difference appears in
the prevailing prices per pound
of beef on the hoof per pound OF
beef on the hoof. In Texas,
again, this average was higher
than in any Of the other tick-in-
tested States, but it was only SAC,
while in by far the great major
ity of the tick-free States it was
more than &c. With the excep-
ton of Louisiana, where the ave-
rage was sic, and Florida, where
it was 5.3c, none Of the badly in
tested States had averages as
high as sc a pound.
The principal causes for this
difference in value are not far to
seek. A severe infestation of ticks
will result in the loss by sucking
of 200 pounds Of blood year
from an animal. This blood has
been made at the expense to the
farmer of pasture, feed and labor.
It should have been turned into
sound beef, but instead it has
gone to support the tick. The
cattle are inferior in weight and
in quality to those produced else
where. and consequently bring
less on the market. Further
more, outside of the quarantine
area, ticky cattle can only be
shipped in interstate commerce
for immediate SlaUghter. They
can not be sold as feeders and
they can not be trans-shipped to
other markets which do not main
tain quarantine pens. In conse-
auence, they sell too frequently
for what the buyer is disposed to
offer, and this is usually from 11ac
to 1c a pound less than the tick
free cattle bring.
Throwing Away Money.
In addition, as long as the tick
prevails it is impossible for the
cattle owner to grade up his herd
and realize the profit which
comes from the production of
stock instead of scrubs.
To import pure bred stock into a
tick-infested area for the pur-
pose Of grading up a herI is to
throw away money. Tho ami
mails merely succumb to fever.
Immunization Of cattle has. it is
true, beer tried with some degree /,
of success. but the process is ex-