The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1919-07-17

% July l., tHc
ment of cattle interstate without hav-
ing them properly tuberculin tested
will be prohibited-with few eXcep-
tiOns-by regulation issued by the
secretary of agriculture. The enforce
ment of this new regulation will, If
is believed, be of great assistance In
preventing the further spread of tuber-
culOsis among live stock, and having
the work practically under state and
federal supervision at all times will
serve to bring about uniformity.
The department of agriculture,
through it's bureau of animal indus
try, is now actively cooperating with
the state live stock sanitary officials
and cattle owners of AZ states in the
eradication of tuberculosis from live
stock.
Recent legislation In several Of the
states has made it possible to proceed
with the work where heretofore it has
been impossible to do so. Federal
funds available for the work are in
sufficient to meet present demands,
anu nOW tlldL lhC NuItlC ONhCio al Y
finding the work to be of such advan-
tage and Importance the demands will
increase rapidly.
Most activities are in the "accredit-
ed-herd" work with the owners and
breeders of pure-bred herds of cattle
who wish to free their herds from
tuberculosis and have them placed on
the list as accredited"
Full Cooperation Essential.
Some "area work" is being conduct
ed. Under this plan a community or
county or some other unit decides to
have all the cattle in the area tuber-
culin tested with a view of complete
ly eradicating the disease as soon as
possible. In order that the "area
work" may be successfully carried on,
the fullest cooperation of the cattle
owners in the territory must be obtain
ed, and any attempt to proceed with
the work without the good will and
hearty cooperation of the people will
fail.
Appropriations by the states for the
coming fiscal year for live stock tuber-
culosis eradication aggregate about two
million dollars. Part of this sum will
be used to indemnify partially the
owners of cattle found to be tuber-
culous. Most of the states now have
laws permitting the payment of in
demnity and the federal department
also pays some indemnity when funds
are available. With the exception of
most advisable to consign the tuber-
culous cattle for slaughter and there
by dispose of them to the best advan-
tage. In the greater portion of ''re-
actors" the disease is found to exist
to but slight extent, making the
meat fit for food-thereby causing a
great saving. The carcasses of such
cattle, after being passed for food by
trained inspectors, usually bring about
the market price, which sum, deduct
ed from the appraised value Of the
live animal, leaves the amount Of loss.
Under the most recent laws, this loss
is divided between the owner, the
state and the United States-each
standing one-third-except that In
most cases the state is limited In the
amount that it can pay and the United
States is always limited to the pay
ment of $50 for pure-bred animal
and sos for a grade.
Healthy Cattle Worth More.
Owners realize that these slightly
diseased cattle may at any time be-
come source of danger to the healthy
animals of the herd and that they
themselves may break down from the
disease and die or become Of little or
no value. The value Of healthy cattle
in any herd, after the tuberculous ones
are taken out, always increases, and II
is a source Of great satisfaction to the
owner that he has healthy herd or
that he is doing everything In his pow
err to make IL so. Cattle from accred-
tied herds are commanding increased
prices over those that are not and
those from herds that are in the proc
ess Of being accredited are also be-
ing sold at advanced prices.
The second list of accredited herds
and those that have successfully pass
ed one tuberculin test In preparation
for the accredited list is expected tc
be ready for distribution July i. Re
quests now received indicate that
100000 copies will be required &c
meet demands. This pamphlet OF
about 100 pages will contain the names
and addresses of about 1000 cattle
owners, representing about $1,000 cat
tie, whose herds have passed one OF
more successful official tuberculir
tests applied under the cooperative
plan for accrediting herds of tuber
culosis-free cattle.
Up to April 1, 1919, the total mum
Der of herds under supervision for the
eradication of tuberculosis was about