The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-03-04
SIX TUBERCULAR CATTLE ARE FOUND.
Dipping for Ticks Will Be Resumed in Alabama
 on March 15

Out of seventy herds containing 929 head of cattle in Alabama tested during February for tuberculosis only l six animals were found with the disease. Two of the tubercular animals were located in the Birmingham district and were among the herds from which the city gets part of it's milk supply. Dr. c. ]. Becker. chief of the bureau of animal husbandry in Alabama for l the United States department of agrl- culture, has been supervising the work and says the showing is very favor. able, especially as the animals found had localized tuberculosis, one or two glands being affected which had formed capsules enveloping the in- fected. area of the disease. Before the work is through every head of cattle in the state will De tested and those found to- be positive cases will be slaughtered. Dr. Becker says that in native bred cattle tuberculosis is seldom found es- pecially is this true of the hybrid or pinewoods stock. In the past severa years almost every COW that has re- acted positively to the tuberculin test has been of imported stock. The government started the work. in Alabama early in 1918, although tests
 
 for years, and so far as the federal work CTS have tested. up to and includ. ing December 15, 1919. 9.574 herds, or 23S26 animals, of which 300 have, reacted to the tuberculin test as posi- tive cases
 Besides his office staff of several experts, pr. Becker has sixteen veter- inarians working with him in Alabama, four other federal agents supplement- L f A- 1.I~st t..1 f1Vs
 The number of accredited herds" those that have been found free from cattle diseases of all kinds, is con stantly growing in the state, numbers of them now shipping stock to other states at will. All. however. undergo the test annually
 There has not been a case of anthrax (hoof and mouth disease) in Alabama since 1 97.
 pr. Becker was scheduled to make an exhaustive report before the Alabama Live Stock Association in Montgomery last week, but the convention was called off, Dr. Becker receiving a tele- gram yesterday saying the meeting had been indefinitely postponed.
 A1abamas campaign for tick eradi- cation will start down the home stretch commencing Monday March 15. On that day dipping will be started again and 1t is believed that the five or six remaining counties in the state will be added to those where dipping is no longer necessary because the tick has been cleared out for all time.
 The work is especially important at this time of year because the ticks start breeding about March 9th They stay on the cattle about three weeks then drop to the ground where a fe- male tick will lay from 5000 to 5000 eggs Two ticks in March mean thousands of them in June and mill lions by September. It is the plan of the authorities, government. state and county, to make the March campaign a complete one.
 A tick-infested cow loses one-fourth of her weigh and gives 30 per cent less, milk. It is exnected that Ala bama will be cleared of them by DecArn Der of this yaar. The big fight will be over after the remaining small spots are cleared up.
 In a few days Dr. Becker will leave bama that border on Florida. Hous- ton Geneva and Escambia counties are constantly harassed by the adjacent Florida counties where little or noth- ing is being done to fight ticks or tuberculosis. These south Alabama counties, in spite of their own good work. are constantly menaced and put in quarantine because of the nerli- gence of the Florida interests. Dr. Becker will try to get such action taken that the nuisance will be abated.