Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-05-08
SHEEP AND CATTLE NANCE
Annual Loss TO Farmers Is Estimst ed
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A. ]. DeFosset, deputy live stock COM
missioner OF the State of Vermont, sends
out the following article in regard to
a disease prevalent at the present time:
When winter grips the western plains
and mountains 1t is not only the biting
cold and the driving storm that causes
the sheep-man great anxiety. A little
louise like organism about one-forteth of
an inch long-the pest that causes scab-
ies-is what brings on days of worry and
sleepless nights. This insidious insect.
multiplying on the warm body of its
helpless host, saps the animals strength,
causes the protecting fleece to slip away
In patches and the sheep falls an easy
victim to exposure
A similar mango affects cattle, but IL is
produced by a different mite that will not
live on a sheep. The one that causes the
most trouble in both cases is the com
mon mango mite. The books and bulle-
tins call them Psoroptes owls and Psor-
optics communis bowls to distinguish them
from each other and from the various
relatives that produce similar inconven-
iences and misery for sheep and cattle
and losses for the owners. But for con-
venience here mango mite" or "scab
mite" or any name such as pest or plague
or scourge can be taken as meaning
either the one that attacks cattle or
sheep or both of them-the common ones
that cause the most damage.
Formerly scabies was the greatest
drawback from which the sheep industry
suffered and it was once one of the great
est hindrances to profitable beef produce
ton on our western ranges. However,
the work Of the bureau of animal indus
try In cooperation with State livestock
sanitary officials has gradually brought
the disease under control except for oc-
casional spreads. and If experienced men
can be kept on the job and money is
many years.
The discovery that certain dips such
as nicotn or lime sulphur solution would
kill the mites on the animals lead to the
making of dipping regulations by the
bureau and by many of the States where
! the disease was prevalent. 1t was found
that one dipping freed an exposed animal
If done within a few days after expo
sure and that a second application on
affected animals within 10 or IL days
got those that Matched since the first
without giving them time to lay any
eggs themselves. Dipping watts, which
are much more effective than spray
pumps, have been built in all localities
where cattle and sheep are affected.
| Every year millions Of sheep and cattle
are given either one or two clippings.
Good progress has been made in recent
years in the fight toward ultimate Grad
ication of the disease from every nook
and corner Of the country, but last year
there was a big increase, particularly of
! sheep scab The disease broke out in
various localities and spread widely in
several western States, and in not a
few instances scabby sheep have found
their way to farms in the corn belt, and
even as far east as New York State
Most of this disease recently discovered
in the central and eastern feeding sec
tons no doubt came from farther west
on exposed sheep that had not been given
the one precautionary dipping. because
officials did not know of the exposure or
it came on sheep that had not been prop
erly dipped because of green help" re-
Gently taken on.
Cattle scab has also been on the in
! crease in recent months. but cattlemen
are not suffering to any such serious ex-
tent as the sheepmen. Scabes of cattle
! is pretty well under control and there is
was five years ago. Still there are more
infected herds than at this time two
years ago.
Compared with some of the other dis
eases and pests that prey on the stock
mems herds and pocketbooks these
mites that produce sheep and cattle
scabies are of minor Importance under
ordinary conditions when the prescribed
precautions are taken. 1t is estimated by
men thoroughly acquainted with condi-
tons that, in view of the increase in the
disease and the high prices of meat and
wool. that the annual loss is about $751; =
go on sheep and cattle. 1t is estimated
that 1t costs the ranchers and farmers
round 100000 to dip the 100000 sheep
that were treated in the six months be-
ginning the first Of last July.
The difficulties that come in the way of
cure and prevention are many and va
rious. In one section last year where
there was an outbreak of cattle scab
the drouth was so severe that 1t was i'm
possible to get water with which to do
| the dipping. The cattle were out on the
range and got their water from creeks
and water holes that had not yet dried
up, but it was not possible to drive them
! into the corrals to be dipped even II
there had been enough water for dipping
as there would not have been enough for
| the cattle to drink. That Is one example
| of the troubles that beset the men who
are trying to eliminate this disease.
| In the spring and summer there are
ordinarily about 100 men from the bureau
of animal industry In the field engage
| In the campaign against scabies. During
| the heavy marketing season there are
nearly 800, veterinarians and other train
| ed inspectors, at the various stock yards
| who look for scabby cattle and sheep
| In the past most Of these men have been
| efficient well trained workers, but since
we entered the war and since salaries
| offered in other places have risen so no.
| tlceably 1t has been practically mpos-
soble to keep them. They have left by
the dozens for more remunerative posi-
| lions.
There are many veterinarians and 9TH
ers in this disease eradication work for
the department Of agriculture who are
deeply Interested and are determined to
| see it through even though they could
make more money somewhere else. but
| the result has been in far too many cases
that when man has accumulated enough
experience to be considered top notcher
| he quits.
Here, then. we have a reason for some
| of the losses that have been coming to
| sheep and cattle raisers and also to other
| stock growers 1t not only concerns these
men, but the whole country that depends
upon them to supply meat at a reason
! able price. What will make our live
stock safe? The answer is easier to find