The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1920-01-15

sioner of Agriculture T. S. Brigham re- +
viewed the work done in testing herds
for tuberculosis under the new law in CO.
operation with the United States bureau
OF animal industry. He said in part,
Not one cent of indemnity is now paid
by the state for animals reacting to the I
tuberculin test unless the owner submits
his entire herd and agrees to follow
procedure which will produce and main !!
tain a tuberculosis free herd This pro-
eedure must be followed by the owner
as long as he owns cattle. If he breaks
his agreement and reinfects his own
cattle he can get no more indemnity from
the state. The required procedure is as
follows:
/. Tuberculin tests made as often as
thought necessary, which Is, in most
cases. once a year.
,. Infested cattle must not be allowed
| to mingle with the tested herd.
3. Milk or other dairy products fed to
calves from outside or unknown sources
must be pasteurized.
4. Reasonable sanitary measures must
be carried out
I The United States bureau of animal
industry cO-operates to the extent of
paying one half the required clerical and
in furnishing ear tags and tuberculin and
inspectors to see that premises are prop
crlv disinfected. 1t also pays very
nearly one half the net indemnity paid
farmers.
The new law has resulted in a great
demand for testing. 1t was estimated
that there were sufficient funds from
federal and state sources and salvage to
test $4,000 head of cattle. On Jan. 3,
1920, 1901 herd owners had applied for
tests of 2S,1:55 head OF cattle since July
/, or more than can be taken care of by
this wears appropriation.
| The farmers now seem to be ready
TO have their herds tested. On June 30.
1927, when the present appropriation OF
100000 annually expires we may expect
to have freed from tuberculosis 69,000
head of cattle This Will leave 300 900
head vet TO be tested Federal aid with
our present appropriation will probably
enable us TO free the state of the disease
in L. wears Many farmers viii have 10
wait years for a test, the disease viii
develop progressively SO that we will
have more To pay for, and diseased ami
mails are menace to the public health
"A state appropriation of S2J0.o00 will
probably he needed to take care of the
work at the present rate of demand
With federal aid. this would enable us
to clean up the state IN xix years when
the payments for indemnity would begin
TO decrease In seven years testing OF
herds supplying the District Of Columbia
with milk the percentage of reactors de
creased from nearly 10 per cent to less
than one per cent. Our dairy product
and our dairy cattle would command
enough higher prices i'll the market K
many times offset the expense and thu
public health would be safeglardcd. Th'
taxpayers of the state must decide Wha'
policy they wish 70 pursue, to continue
the present appropriation for a long tern
cf wears before eradication Is complete
or to make a large appropriation, put Al
end 10 the expense ut an earlier date an'
have the benefits to be derived from hay
inc a state free from bovine tubcrcu
loSis
There were three interesting speaker
nj Yesterday 5 session. The attendane
~-as swclled considerably over the la
before and the speakers all GOT dow
- the real business Of dealing with tn
problems which are bothering the dairy
men TODAY. One fact developel an
.hat is the Vermont cow is falling b.
mind in its milk production and no'
ranks far below other states. TIL
propositions of the renfedving Of tn
defect occupied considerable tiln'