Durant weekly news. (Durant, Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 190?-1944, 1916-02-25

lCFrom Weekly News Letter United Statei
Department OF Agricultural
Specialists of the department are
urging cattle owners, in the North as
well as in the South, to take steps tc
rid their cattle OF OK MARBLES OF
wolves" the Importance of which tc
the cattle industry has been generally
funderestimated. Ok MARBLES are the
whitish grubs or maggots which de
velop from the eggs deposited by GER
tain flies known as warble flies OF
heel flies, and which injure the hides
reduce milk fiow and retard the growth
of the animals. The maggots are com
monty found Just below the skin on
Ehe backs of cattle in the spring. TheiI
presence is revealed by local swellings
about the size of pigeons eggs, each
with a small central hole or perfora
tion through which the maggot
breathes. From this hole the maggot,
when mature, emerges to enter the
ground and change to the adult or fly
stage. When full grown the grub is
about three-fourths of an inch in
length.
In the past trouble from the MARBLES
has largely been confined to cattle in
the South, but recently the bureau OF
entomology has discovered that a sec.
Dnd species, heretofore not found in
this country but known to be even
more serious pest in Europe than is
nur native warble, has become we'll es.
tablished in certain districts in the
- T.NN
While it is probable that this so-called
European OK warble will not be of as
great importance in the southern part
Of the United States as the species al
ready established, there is every rea'
son to believe that unless checked it
will become generally distributed
throughout the northern half Of the
country. This European species is
now generally distributed throughout
New York and the New England states
and a few specimens have been OBJ.
tanned from western Pennsylvania,
western Maryland, southern Michigan,
eastern Iowa and Missouri, and west.
ern Washington. Attention is also di-
rected to the fact that this species is
new generally distributed throughout
southern Canada. The department,
therefore, is calling attention at this
time TO the danger of spreading this
species promiscuously about the coun-
try, and is urging cattle owners to take
The simple means necessary to pre-
vent its spread.
Until recently MARBLES were not re,
Earded as serious even in the South
because 1t was thought that the loss
they occasioned came principally from
the damage they did to hides. Even
this loss in the aggregate, however, ii
important, as hides show warble holes
three to six months in the year, and
Dealers pay from 80 cents to $1.50 less
for hides that show even moderate
Rarble infestation. In many cases the
scars left after the holes have healed
cause buyers to cut prices consid
Brably.
The loss from the warble, however
Is by no means limited to the holes tn,
maggots cut in the hides. EXTENSIVE
Investigations in Germany and Den
mark indicate that the losses through
reduction in milk supply in dairy cat
tie, the retardation of growth in youn
stock, and the loss of flesh in al
glasses of animals are twofold create
than the damage done to the hides. i
some of these tests the early extraC
Lion of the grubs from the backs OF il
Tested cattle resulted in an increase @
nearly 25 per cent in the milk produC
hon. Animals from which the grub
had been extracted showed a gain G
more than five per cent in weight owe
similar animals in which the pest
we're allowed to develop normally.
Thus far the veterinarians and eI
bomologists of the department hav
determined no better way of contTo
ling these pests than through the syi
Eematic extraction and destruction c
the grubs from the backs of infeste
animals.
When the larvae are nearly ready
leave their host they may be easil
squeezed out by pressing the swellin
with the fingers, but II not so far d.
Veloped 1t is often very difficult to &c
them out by squeezing. In such case
slender pair of forceps may be use
for pulling them out. If the swellin
and it's opening are still very small
the best way of extracting the grub
to make an incision with knife, afte
which the grub can be squeezed out
applying strong pressure. Kill the CRU
when removed.
1t is important that MARBLES be r
moved as early in their developmer
~ possible This relieves the infeste
animal from the irritation and pr
vents the enlargement OF the ex
holes. While this practice is not o.
plicabls to ranch conditions, 1t