The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1916-05-26
CONTAGIOUS ABORTION
AMONG CATTLE
Stockmen Should Realize the Import
ance of the Disease.

Contagious abortion among cattle, /
the annual loss from which was esti-
mated a few years ago to be $2OOOOOOOl
| is spreading so rapidly through the
country that from an economic stand.
point it threatens to become one OF
| the most important of animal diseases.
| Formerly confined almost exclusively
to dairy COWS and farm beef herds. 1t
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 its control difficult. For tins
reason it is important that stockmen
should realize the seriousness OF the
disease and the necessity for the adop-
ton of measures for preventing its
spread.
At the present time sanitary and hy-
gienic measures are the only means OF
control which have demonstrated their
effectiveness. The drugs and proprie-
tary preparations which have been ad-
vocated for the cure or prevention OF
the disease are regarded by the spe-
lcialists of the department as ineffective
and their use can not be recommend
ed. On the other hand it is certain
that proper disinfection of premises.
and in particular of breeding animals,
will do much to minimize losses.
Recently preparations known as
"becterins," consisting of suspension
of the killed organisms of portion, and
!, serum obtained from infected animals,
have come into use and can be obtain
ed from several firms who manutac-
ture biologic products. These pro,
ducts are still in the experimental
stage, and much time must elapse be-
fore their true value can be determln-
ed. Notwithstanding this fact, this line
of treatment offers the most scientihc
: and reasonable method of combating
, the disease, and our only hope of even
tually controlling abortion lies in the
future DEVELOPMENT of an effective vac
> cine or serum.
s The organism which causes the dis
r ease may be conveyed from COW to
COW bv means of the bull or may en-
ter the system with contaminated
: food. All aborting animals and all
c showing discharge should, therefore,
: be isolated from the healthy members
of the herd in order to eliminate, so
far as possible. infective material. In
) fected stables should be thoroughly
y cleansed with a standard disinfectant
Ia applied with force or spray pump,
;. the disinfection of the contaminated
;. stall being repeated after each abor-
ton Manure and contaminated litter
d should be promptly removed and
," plowed under to prevent access to II
'. by other cattle. Detailed instructions
for the disinfection of both the COW
o. and the bull are contained in Circular
re 2l6 of the Bureau of Animal Industry
lie Many herd owners fail to observe
s these precautions because they do MOI
" realize that the infection is present II
e their herds. The disease is insidious
81 it usually requires hong time to de-
II, yelop, does not reveal itself by warn
er ing symptoms, and does not, indeed
appear to affect in any way the gen
NC eral health of the animal. In conse
O. quence it is quite likely that the in
ge lection will have spread Throughout
rs the herd before the owner is awar'
of any danger. There are. it is true
certain tests which can be employed
to ascertain the presence OF the lntec
ton, but from practical standpoln
ct these possess some drawbacks. Al
- infected animals do not abort. hur
thermore, after two or three abor
co. tons cows appear to acquire nat
We ural immunity, and are thereafter quit
to capable of normal reproduction, a.
-,v though they continue to react to tn
' tests. A positive reaction, therefor,
ne does not necessarily mean that hea
till thy calf will not be born.
icy On the other hand, the fact tn:
;of several animals have aborted With
short period is in itself suggestiN
CO. evidence of the presence ct the d''
he ease. Furthermore, it sometimes hal
Of mems that in cows which have acquire
,ou Immunity, although apparently health
themselves, the infection persists al
seu they are able to transmit the disea:
ED to others. For this reason, when II
our infection has once established itself
a herd. the whole herd should be col
sidered infected, and all abortions, r
tanned afterbirths, and all tendency
sterility should be regarded as man
festations of the disease.
sv{ This does not mean, however. tn
' 81 all infected animals are to be dispose
~ of. AS a matter of fact. in herds
wv which the disease has gained Toe
ioI hold, a COW that has aborted once
ing twice is in some way more valuab
ngs than one that has not. 1t is safe
,ao. saw that in practically no case do mo
sey than three abortions take place, al
in the majority of instances there a
. not more than two. Cows which a
not made sterile will in all probabi
ty resume normal reproduction. l.
the other hand if they are remov
to make way for fresh animals, the
g is a strong possibility that the ne
- Corners already are, or soon Will
infected, and are actually further fro
ase immunity than the old ones. The eli
"a nation of infected animals is the
not fore not to be recommended as
gh- means of controlling the disease,
.ble less their value is not great enou
ost to warran. the expense of treatmen
and A train of complications often
'rer companies abortion, and OF these
rm. tanned afterbirth is perhaps the co
1t monest. This, if neglected or imprt
ster erly treated. may result in absorpt
par. of poisonous products, septicemia. q
b. death Also sterility may follow, ru
ing the cow for everything exc
ars slaughter. Calf scours, too, see
ara more destructive in herds affected "