Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-01-23
stance it has proven fatal" says
Commissioner Bearce in his report
Bovine TubereuIosis

culosis is being kept up. W nile the
number of cattle tested in the State
under State and cooperative super
vision has not materially increased
over 1918 yet the number Of con-
demned and slaughtered cattle has
increased by over 1.5 head. This is
due to the investigation OF sus-
picious herds. the breaking out into
new territory and the enforcement Of
the long tuberculin test which re-
quires the taking of temperatures I'M
til the twentieth hour after injection,
instead of the former or short meth
cd of testing.
"Of course the short method picked
out the majority OF re-actors yet
when one remained that one might
be the original spreader of the dis
ease. and the premises and stable
would continue to be infested and the
disease continue to grow and multi
ply. while under the long method OF
testing there is not much danger or
leaving diseased animals in the herds.
For the past year our inspectors
have tested herds that were formally
tested by the short method annually.
and in many cases have taken out a
number of re-actors which proves
that What is worth doing is worth
doing Well
Cooperative Test
The cooperative test which is
conducted jointly by the Bureau of
Animal Industry and the State of
Maine has become we'll established
and known to the farmers and breed
ers. In some ways the cooperative
test is blessing to the cattle indus
picking and embarrassing.
1T has been the endeavor Of the
commissioner, but his pleadings have
been without avail. that the vetri-
inarians of this State be allowed the
privilege of applying the tuberculin
test under the cooperative plan and
thus hasten the work along and sat-
isfy the farmer. at the same time Civ
ing employment to the Maine veteri-
narians where it rightly belongs.
Contagious Abortion
The disease Of conta gious abor-
ton is prevalent throughout the
State. Its financial cost to the
farmer and breeder far exceeds that
of bovine tuberculosis. It's cure lies
within the hands OF the owner many
times. Care and knowledge of your
cattle, both the females and sire.
sanitary conditions and disinfection
all count in keeping the disease from
the herd.
siaekies
NO new cases of blackleg have ap-
peared in the State during the past
year. The outbreak at Bancroft last
year has been carefully guarded and
the cattle in the immediate vicinity
have been vaccinated against anoA-
er invasion of the disease.
Parasitic Pneumonia
We had no evidence Of parasitic
pneumonia. ~erminous bronchitis or
lung worm within the State the past
year.
Hog Cholera
There have been the usual num-
Der Of cases of hog cholera reported
and the principal causes are the old
infected premises where the germs
OF the disease have fingered for
years. and the feeding of swill or city
garbage.
Importation Of Cattle
There has been a large decrease
in the importation of cattle from
other states the past year. There
have been 225 permits issued from
this Office for the importation of cat
tie and $50 cattle have entered Maine
on those permits. A large majority
OF this number have been calves I'M
der six months of age to be raised for
breeding purposes. 1t is not consid-
cred that reliable tuberculin test
can be made on calves until they ar
rive at the age of four or six months,
consequently many have been al
lowed to remain in quarantine on the
premises of the importer until they
are old enough to test. OF late most
OF the mature cattle entering Maine
nave been tested under orders of the
Buerau OF Animal Industry for in
terstate shipment but animals under
SIX months OF age are exempt from
testing under the inter state ship
ment rules
In Conclusion
To correct a false impression that
is In the minds of some, that is. that
this department is under the man
agement and general directions of the
Commissioner of Agriculture, / will
say that that was the original law b,,,
by an act passed by the legislature Of
ls1. the law was so amended as to
separate this department from the
agricultural department and annex il
to the executive department. The
reason for this made by the promot-
ers OF this change. seemed quite
frivolous at the time. but the real
reason dawns upon the mind more
forcibly as time rolls on
For three years this department.
which Is supposed by a majority of
the farmers of Maine. to be working
for the betterment of agriculture. has
not received any benefit. aid, encour-
agement or even words of cheer from
the Agricultural Department OF
Maine. This is very mucn to be re-
GREETED and believe the farmers of
Maine should become acquainted
with the facts that for three years
past the friendly cooperation which
should have existed between this de-
partment and the Agricultural De-