The Elbert County tribune., 1916-07-14


Contagious abortion among cattle
the annual loss from which was esti-
mated a few years ago to be S20,OOO,-
900. 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, 1t has new found its way to the
range, where losses In some instances
have run us high us one-half of the
calf crop. Here the conditions are
such as to make its control difficult.
For this reason 1t is important that
stockmen should realize the serious
ness of the disease and the necessity
for the adoption of measures for pre-
venting its 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 preven-
ton of the disease are regarded by the
specialists of the department as inef-
fectiye, and their use cannot be recon-
mended. On the other hand, it is GER
tain that proper disinfection of prem
tses, and in particular of breeding an
imnls. will do much to minimize losses.
Hope OF Control.
Recently preparations known as ''bac-
terins." 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 to
cow by means of the bull or may enter
the system with contaminated food.
All aborting animals and all showing
q discharge should, therefore, be isO-
tnted from the healthy members of the
herd in order to eliminate, so far as
possible, infective material. Infected
stables should be thoroughly cleansed
with u standard disinfectant applied
with force or spray pump, the disin-
fection of the contaminated stall be-
Ing repeated after each abortion. Ma
nure and contaminated litter should
be promptly removed and plowed un-
der to prevent access to 1t by other
fpc cffn a
disinfection of both the COW and the
bull are contained in Circular PIG 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,
1t usually requires long time to de-
velop, does not reveal itself by warn
Ing symptoms. and does not, indeed,
appear to infect in any way the gen.
eral health of the animal. In conse-
uuence, it is quite likely that the in
fection 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 practical standpoint these
possess some drawbacks. All infect
ed animals do not abort. Further
more, after two or three abortions,
cows appear to acquire nntural Inn
munity, and are thereafter quite ca
pable of nermaI reproduction. al
though they continue to react to the
tests. A positive reaction, therefore,
does not necessarily mean that
healthy calf will not be born.
On the other hand, the fact that sew
eraI animals have aborted within a
short period is In itself suggestive evil
dence of the disease. Furthermore, 1t
sometimes happens that in cows which
have acquired immunity although ap-
parentIy healthy themselves, the In
fection persists and they are able to
transmit the disease to others. For
this reason. when the infection has
once established Itself in n herd, the
whole herd should be considered In
fected, and all abortions, retained af-
terbirths, and all tendency to steril-
ity should be regarded as manifesta-
tions OF the dlsease.
Eliminate Infected Animals.
This does not mean, however. that
all infected animals are to be dis
poses. of. AS matter of fact, in
herds in which the disease has gained
a foothold, cow that has abOrted
once or twice Is in some ways more
valuable than one that has not 1t Is
safe 70 say that In practically no case