The Spectator., 1916-03-03

control of tuberculosis in animals sold and shipped into other states. Very stringent requirements have been placed upon the testing of cattle for tuberculosis that are to be shipped into other states. In order to main- tain trade with these states, the breed CTS and live stock sanitary board must bring their cattle up to the standard required by these tests. The present requirements in most states are that tuberculin tests should be made with in 30 days from date of shipment. It is easily seen that such a test upon cattle whose previous history regard ing tuberculosis is not known, and such test made by strangers and pos sibly in strange quarters, will not re- veal the conditions of the animals re garding tuberculosis.
 Tt is also easy to see that cattle that have been tested for number of years without showing tuberculosis are much safer animals to buy than those selected by the process of the test mentioned above.
 | SOIIcSpCuueuCS anu COHleTSHCeS with state veterinarians of other states have assured us that they are willing to cooperate in a plan whereby herds tested annually are listed in a class known as Clean Herds or Class A. It will be readily seen that herds, whether they be purebred or grades, will be more desirable to present | wit tot fboy those who have not been tested and are not eligible to this class. The consequence will be that the market and the prices for cattle in Class A will be better than for all other ami mals. Consequently, it will be readily seen that there will be desire on the part of the farmers and breeders to have their cattle tested and in condi- tion for entrance into this class.
 The incentive for testing and cleaning up herds in the state will therefore come from the breeders, farmers and breeder associations rath- CT than from any pressure without.
 "We have decided to take definite steps and vigorous action in this mat ter and have worked out a plaf which I wish to present today Ac- cording to this plan, we propose to establish a list of herds that are free from tuberculosis, so far as careful tuberculin tests made by inspectors of the five stock and sanitary board of the department of agriculture can show them.
 The following are the details of this plan so far as they have been definitely worked out:
 'First-Herds admitted to the test for entrance to the list of certified herds. or Class A. must first have passed at least two satisfactory tests.
 When an owner decides to have his herd tested for entrance to the certi- fled list, he must first make applica- tion to the state veterinarian of the department of agriculture. A veterin- arian will then be sent as soon as one is available to make the necessary tests, and if no re-actors are found on that test, or any previous test, the herd may then be admitted to the list.
 The expense of making the test will be borne by the owner, and will be sufficient in amount to cover the salary and expenses of the employees for the time devoted to the work.
 'Second-The owner must agree not to introduce any animals into his herd except from a Class A herd, unless animals so added to the herd are tu- berculin tested on entrance to the herd and retested again within three months. The owner must also agree to submit his herd to be tested annu- ally by an employee of the live stock sanitary board.
 All encouragement possible will be given to the breeders and owners to have their herds tested locally so that they may make sure that their herds are in condition to be admitted into the certified class.
 "Third-The Wisconsin Live Stock Breeders association has entered heartily into the project and is making it part of it's work the coming year to induce farmers, breeders and breed CTS associations to test their herds in order to rid them of tubercular ami mals under direction of the live stock sanitary board, to prepare them for the state test for admittance into the certified list of clean herds or Class A
 Negotiations arc now under way and in some instances have been con- cluded with number of states for the acceptance of shipments from such herds to any state in the Union, on . certificate based upon the yearly test of such herds. such certificate to be is- sued from the state veterinary div. sion."