South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-03-01
SUPERVISE STOCK
AND FEEDER HOGS
Government to Take Hand in
Shipping and Breeding to
Fight Disease.

In an effort 10 protect the swine
industry Of the country against the
possibility of introducing sick hogs
into we'll herds. and at the same
time 10 permit the shipment from
stockyardS Of Stocker and feeder
hogs, the United States department
of agriculture conducts a system of
vaccination against cholera as a part
of its inspection service at the vari-
Gus stocHyard centers. More thar
$4,000 hogs were immunized for
shipment as stoclers and feeders
from stockyards of IS cities during
the six months from July 20 Deem
Der. 1915, inclusive. To accomplish
this without spreading disease. in
the face OF all the attendant dan
gers required. of course. such close
care that the wisdom Of some phases
OF the inspection system may not
have been always apparent TO all
concerned. description Of the con-
ditious under which stockers and
feeder cattle are inspected is con-
tanned in d statement recently issued
by the bureau of animal industry Of
the department.
With swine moving by carloads
and trainloads from producing areas
into public stCckyards of the country.
says the statement, the pens of such
yards are inevitably infected with
the common swine diseases. of which
cholera is the most important. Owing
20 this condition federal regulations
formerly required the slaughter OF
swine received OUT after the serum
and virus treatment against hog
cholera was standardized, the pos
sibility of reshipping' immature hogs
for further feeding resulted in a
modification of the rules. Unde-
the plan now in force swine proper
ly vaccinated and disinfected may
he reshipped for any purpose, in
Guiding breeding.
Purpose and Methods of Inspection.
lmmunizing hogs against cholera
is a veterinary procedure, including
the preventive-Serum treatment. TAX
ing of temperatures, and observing
the condition Of the animal during
the test period. Necessarily the Of
fetal regulations are of technical
character, and it has come to the
attention of the department of ag-
riculture that in some cases the rules
have been misinterpreted, so as TO
make them appear responsible for
fluctuations in the stock-hog market
For information of the public.
the bureau of animal industry out
lines briefly the method of inspec-
ton:
All stockyards are considered to
be infected and swine are. there
fore, exposed to the contagion from
the time of their entry into the
yards. consequently, il is important
that they be immunized promptly
after arrival at such yards 20 pro
tect them against contracting the
disease.
For that reason the department
opposes the immunizatiCn of swine
that have been so exposed for more
than days. Hogs. though they
may not show physical symptoms
OF cholera, may in some instances
be affected with the disease to such
an extent that immunization will
not protect them.
Value of 5-Day Limit.
If the D day limit were not ap-
piled, many animals in this condi-
tion might be shipped 10 the feed
lots. which would result in serious
financial loss TO the buyer through
sides creating a center of infection
in that community.
It is not Permissible TO immunize
swine for immediate shipment inter
state if they show symptoms of con-
tagious or infectious disease.
If a considerable percentage of
the animals in a lot is found TO
have high temperatures. the posi-
BILE presence of such disease is in
dicated. and the ANIMALS are not i'm
mUnized or permitted TO be shipped
interstate. 1t is possible to have
hogs with high temperature as a
result Of conditions surrounding the
shipment to marke' in which case
they Will return TO 1rTnal within q
short time.
In these instances. the owner is
permitted 10 present the animals
for denomination as frequently "a
desired within the 5-day limit, and
If. upon such denomination, they
are found TO be normal their im-nu-
nization is supervised, and after they
are disinfectej certificate covering
their interstate movement is issued.
This provision is for the purpose
of affording the owner every Oppor-
tunity consistent with safety TO the
swine industry TO market his ship.
ment in the most profitable way
Must Protect Purchasers.
The practice of shipping swine
from one public stOckyard TO another
before immunization is liable 70 re-
duce the protection afforded very
considerably. because Of the uncer-
tainty as to the length Of time the
animals have been exposed. To per-
pit the interstate movement of such
lots would afford insufficient pro-
lection TO the purchasers who are
not familiar with these various
phases.
Department inspectors. therefore.
have Instructors not 70 supervise
the immunization of such lots unless
IL can be shown oOnclusiveiy that
not more than days have elapsed
since the animals were first unload
ed in a public stoclSyard.