The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1920-05-27
ITO ERADICATE
I. B. In CATTLE
state Livestock Sanitary Board Work
ing to Establish Herds Nationally
Accredited Free from Tu-
berculOsis

and growing interest among cattle
owners in the accredited herds plan.
through which the State Livestock
Sanitary Board and the u. s. Bureau
OF Animal Industry are cooperating In
South Dakota to eradicate tuberculosis
of cattle and to establish herds nation
ally accredited as free from tubercul-
osis.
Breeders, Farm Bureaus, a~gricult-
| lral journals and the Cooperative Elk
tension Department Of the State Col
lege with its force OF county agents,
are helping to interest cattle owners
and acquaint them with their oppor-
tunity to get rid of tuberculosis under
the only plan that has been found to
be effective, the expense of which ia
horne jointly by the state and federal
governments.
The demand for this work has in
creased so rapidly that the Livestock
Sanitary Board appropriation of $780,
900 for the current fiscal year to pay
owners indemnity for cattle destroyed
on account OF tuberculosis, was en-
'irely exhausted before January 1,
1920, leaving a deficit and no funds to
pay for the animals that reacted to the
tuberculosis test between hat time and
July /. Because of lack of funds the
Hoard was obliged to discontinue test
ing new herds about the first of the
| year, and confine the work to retest-
ing herds that had been previously
placed under supervision. This
| ed a cessation OF new work by the
Federal field force, and seriously In
terferred with the progress that was
being made in tuberculosis eradica-
tion. X,
However, a great many breeders,
being very anxious to have their herds
accredited, made application and ex-
pressed their Willingness to take
chances on securing indemnity by lat
or action of the Legislature. So insis-
ltcnt was this demand, that work was
resumed by the state and federal fore
es, but owners were first required to
sign a waiver Of legal claim against
the state
The purpose of the accredited herds
Plan is to eradicate tuberculosis on
the farm and eventually do away with
testing cattle every time they are o
ed across a state line, which method
has been found to be inadequate, and
a burden on the livestock industry. 1t
is the purpose to establish clean herd
centers and, as the work progresses.
to establish free areas. Already plans
ere being considered for Graduating
tuberculosis from entire counties, and
permitting the shipment of cattle from
free counties to any part of the United
States without restriction.
Among other benefits to be derived
Is the prevention of the enormous loss
cs on hogs which contract tuberculosis
from running with affected cattle.
While in some markets this loss is
apparently borne by the packer, It
cannot DE doubted that higher prices
could be paid for hogs il it were not
necessary to send such a large percen-
tage of them to the tank on account
OF tuberculosis LESSONS. This loss
amounts to thousands of dollars an
nuaIly at the Sioux Falls plants. and
doubtless in the same proportion On
hogs shipped to other markets from
this state.
1t requires from q year and a half
to several years to fully accredit q
herd as free from tuberculosis, depend
ing on whether reactors are found on
the first or subsequent tests, rs no
beds are accredited until they have
been found free on two annual or three
semi-annual tests. Thirteen herds
have been fully accredited in this state
and upwards Of 20 0herds placed and-
er supervision. These are being regu-
iarly tested and many of them viii
soon be ready to accredit.
The breeders of the state propose to
ask the special session OF the legisla-
ture for appropriations sufficient to
pay indemnity for all reactors already
found and not paid for, and to continue
tie work in full force to the end OF the
present fiscal year. and during the year
beginning with July 1, 1920.
The work is done by the State Live
stock Sanitary Board and U. s. Bureau
of Animal Industry inspectors. work
ing in cooperation, and without cost to
the owner. The state pays indemnity
: based on one-half the difference be-
tween the salvage and the appraised
valuation. limited to 800 for p~uretsed
end $50 for others. The Bureau pays
on q basis Of one-third. limited to $50
and SIS.