The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1916-07-27

Contagious abortion among cattle,
the annual loss from which was esti-
mated a few years ago to be $20,000,-
600, is spreading so rapidly through
the country that from an economic
standpoint it threatens to become one
of the most important of animal dis
eases. Formerly confined almost eX-
cluSively to dairy cows and farm beef
herds, it has now found its way to the
range, where losses in some instances
have run as high as One-half of the
calf crop. Here the conditions are
such as to make it's control difficult
For this reason it is important that
stOckmen should realize the serious
ness of the disease and the necessity
for the adoption Of measures for pre-
venting it's spread.
At the present time sanitary and
hygienic measures are the only means
of control which have demonstrated
their effectiveness. The drugs and
proprietary preparations which have
been advocated for the cure or proven
ton of the disease are regarded by the
specialists of the department as inef-
fective, and their use cannot be recon-
mended. On the other hand, it is GER
tain that proper disinfection of prem
Uses, and in particular Of breeding an
imalS, will do much to minimize losses
Hope of Control.
Recently preparations known as "bac-
TERMS" consisting of suspension OF
the killed organisms of abortion, and
serum obtained from infected ami
mails, have come into use and can be
obtained from several firms who man
ufacture biOlogic products. These
products are still in the experimental
stage, and much time must elapse be-
fore their true value can be deter
mined. Notwithstanding this fact
this line of treatment offers the most
scientific and reasonable method OF
combating the disease, and our only
hope of eventually controlling abortion
lies in the future development of an
effective vaccine or serum.
The organism which causes the dis.
ease may be conveyed from COW tC
cow by means of the bull or may enter
the system with contaminated food
All aborting animals and all showing
a discharge should, therefore, be iso
lated from the healthy members OF the
herd in order to eliminate, so far as
possible. infective material. Infected
stables should be thoroughly cleansed
with a standard diSinfectant applied
with a force or spray pump, the disin,
lection of the contaminated stall be-
ing repeated after each abortion. Ma
nure and contaminated litter should
be promptly removed and plowed I'M
der to prevent access to it by other
cattle. Detailed instructions for the
disinfection of both the COW and the
bull are contained in Circular 216 OF
the bureau of animal industry.
Neglect Precautions.
Many herd owners fail to observe
these precautions because they do not
realize that the infection is present in
their herds. The disease is insidious
it usually requires a long time to de-
yelop. does not reveal itself by warn
ing symptoms, and does not, indeed
appear to affect in any way the gen
eral health of the animal. In conse
ouence. it is quite likely that the in
lection will have spread Throughout
the herd before the owner is aware OF
any danger. There are, 1T is true, GER
tain tests which can be employed to
ascertain the presence of the infection
but from a practical standpoint these
possess some drawbacks. All infect
ed animals do not abort. Further
more. after two or three ab0rtlons
COWS appear to acquire natural I'M
munity, and are thereafter quite ca
pable of normal reproduction, al
though they continue to react to the
tests. A positive reaction, therefore
does not necessarily mean that 9
healthy calf will not be born.
On the other hand, the fact that sew
eraI animals have abOrted within
short period is in itself suggestive evil
dence of the disease. Furthermore, II
sometimes happens that in cows which
have acquired immunity, although ap
parently healthy themselves, the IN
lection persists and they are able tc
transmit the disease to others. Fol
this reason, when the infection has
once established itself in q herd, the
whole herd should be considered In
fected, and all abortiOns, retained al
terbirths. and all tendency to sterll
ity should be regarded as manifesto
lions of the disease.
Eliminate Infected Animals.
This does not mean, however, thai
all infected animals are to be dis
nosed of. AS a matter of fact, II
herds in which the disease has gained
foothold, a cow that has abortet
once or twice is in some ways more
valuable than one that has not. 1t i
safe to say that in practically no case