Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1919-05-04
TUBERCULAR COWS
ARE SHIPPED TO
SOUTHERN STATES
Warns Prospective Buyers
To Investigate Cattle
Before Purchase.


Washington, D. c., May Pend
ing the outcome of an investigation
by the Bureau of Animal Industry
United States Department of Agri.
culture, into the sources of tubercu-
lous cattle lately shipped to Southern
States, persons about to buy stock,
especially dairy animals are caution
ed to make full inquiry into the health
Of the stock and the sanitary condi-
.tions on the farm from which the ami
mails come.
Vetinary inspectors of the Tenncs
see department of agriculture and the
Federal Bureau Of Animal Industry,
who tested carloads of cattle re-
ceived from Illinois few months ago
by Tennessee purchasers, found that
tuberculosis existed among SO to i 90
per cent of the animals acquired.
The section from which the cattle
were received, is now under investi-
cation, and, the case promises to par
allel that of an Illinois cattle dealer
who was recently convicted in the
Federal court for using the United
States mails to defraud prospective
purchasers Of dairy cattle
Officials Determined to Stop Fraud.
The bureau, backed by the scientif-
ic and and legal stats of the depart
ment of Agriculture, is determined
that the new dairy communities of
the South and other parts of the coun-
try shall not be made a dumping
ground for diseased \ cattle sold by
interruptions dealers. Investigations
have shown that southern herds in
general are relatively free from tuber-
culosis. Of 5000 cattle recently test
ed in herds supplying milk to Birm-
ingham, Ala, only AZ were found to
be tuberculous. That is less than
per cent, which is much below the es-
timated average for the United States
as whole. 4
Bureau officials state that more
cases of tuberculosis usually are found
among the dairy: herds in and near
cities than among native cattle, be-
cause the former herds are augment
ed more often by animals shipped in
from outside sources. Such condi-
ton points to the need for greater
precautions by purchasers in obtaiing
stock. Safety lies in buying from
those farms known definitely to be
free from disease. More and more
pure bred and grade herds arc now
being officially accredited as free from
tuberculosis, and the further devel-
opment of these sources of healthy
cattle is expected to reduce the op-
portunity for traffic in diseased an
imals.
Reactors Show Advanced Stage of
z Disease. Ee
The condition of the three carloads
of cattle found by Federal inspectors
to be more than half tuberculous was
a bitter surprise to the Tennessee
dairymen. In one lot of 16 cattle,
Is reacted to the test, and postmort-
EN- examination of all but three cows,
which were held to calve, showed
well-marked LESSONS of tuberculosis.
In another lot of 46 animals, II re-
acted to the test, four of which were
SO badly affected that they were con-
denned to the offal tank. In anoth-
er lot one of the animals died before
a test could be made.
The damage done by the shipments
Of the kind mentioned is beyond reck-
ing, especially when the depressing
effect Of the fraud on the local dairy
industry is considered. Officials of
the United States Department of Ag-
riculture declare that except in the
case Of valuable pure bred breeding
stock, isolated from healthy animals,
the best remedy is the heroic method
of Strengthening the animals which re-
act the test, cleaning up the herds at
once, and after that keeping them
free from disease as provided under
the accredited herd plan.
Cooperative arrangements in some
States make the State and Govern
ment partners in sharing with the
owner the loss of cattle found dis
eased and slaughtered. This incen-
tive toward complete eradication is
a policy which the Department Of
Agriculture is eildeavoring to have
every State adopt. The laws of many
States provide and this is an impor-
tant matter for dairymen to consider
that indemnify be paid for condem-
ned animals only after they have been
kept in the State q specified period,
usually six months or year. In
Tennessee bovine tuberculosis is be-
ing eradicated by the State and Gov
.ernment comparatively, but the mat
ter OF reimbursement Is administered
by county authorities. 1
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