The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1921-02-02

So severe have become the ravages
Of tuberculosis among cattle and
swine in this country that scientists of
the United States department of agri-
culture now predict that unless the
spread is checked, 1.-THE time is not far
distant when all our swine herds will
be attacked by the disease" Their
opinion is based upon statistics kept
by the meat inspection division of the
bureau Of animal industry, which show
that the disease has been on the in
crease in the United States for num-
Der of years.
According to these figures showing
the cattle and swine slaughtered I'M
der government supervision during the
fiscal year 1919. there were condemned
on account of tuberculosis at the Off
cial meat-inspection stations 65.S3S
hogs and 1880 cattle. the equivalent
of about 1000 carloads of hogs and l.
600 carloads Of cattle. Large as the
swine industry of the United States
Is, they point out, it cannot sustain an
nually these losses.
What 1t Means In Dollars.
1t is suggested as means of inter-
esting the live stock producers Of the
next generation that breeders figure
out the total number of pounds of beef
and pork that were destroyed on ac-
count of the condemnation of this num-
Der of animals. Then. carrying out the
problem in dollars and cents, calculate
the losses sustained by those concerned
in the transaction. In calculating the
losses 1t will be well to consider also
that these animals were fed approx
mately 10000 carloads of feed in their
preparation for market. More than
this, since only about 65 per cent of
the cattle and swine slaughtered in tho
country are killed in establishments
under federal supervision, the figures
given must be regarded as only part
Of the losses annually sustained.
1t is by allowing tubercilous animals
to mingle with healthy ones that the
disease Is spread. Tuberculous cattle
are the principal source of tubercu-
losis in hogs, the disease being trans
mitted readily by feeding hogs on un-
pasteurized dairy Products, or by al
lowing hogs to follow tuberculous cat
tie in feed lots and to feed. on undi-
gested grain in the drOppings. Tuber-
culOsis in swine Is found to be more
prevalent in communities where tuber-
culOsis among cattle Is quite common.
To eradicate tuberculosis in swine it
Is necessary to exterminate the disease
among cattle.
Must Pass Two Tests.
With this end in view campaign
FOR eradicating tuberculosis was in
augurated by the bureau Of animal in
dustry in 1917. The work has been ex-
tended into As states, and in all proba-
bility the three states not now engaged
in the work will take it up as soon as
their respective legislatures have an
opportunity Of taking the matter I'M
der consideration. The campaign is
divided into three projects: The ac-
credited-herd plan, the eradication of
tuberculosis from circumscribed areas,
and the eradication Of tuberculosis
from swine.
The accredited-herd plan provides
that when herds Of cattle have passed
two successful annual tuberculln tests,
applied by state or federal officials,
they are classified as accredited and q
certificate issued showing that the
herds have been found to be free from
the disease. Up to July, 1920, there
were approximately 5000 accredited
herds and more than $4,000 herds
which have passed one successful test
in preparation for being accredited.
1t is to the interest Of the swine
raiser to know that his herd is being
maintained on healthy basis, free
from tuberculosis. This fact can be
determined only by careful tubercu-
lin test or by obtaining information
from the establishment where the ami
mails he sells are slaughtered. If all
shipments Of swine were marked, by
branding or other means, for the pur-
pose Of identification, each lot could
be traced to the killing floor. Tuber-
culOus animals thus could be traced
back to the farm of their origin, and
livestock sanitary officials could take
proper steps for exterminating the dis
ease there.
Unfortunately. however, it is impos-
sible to trace large proportion of the
diseased shipments, because the ami.
mails change hands many times and
are mixed up at public stock yards, SC
that by the time they have reached t. .
killing floor their identity is lost. Not
withstanding this, many hundred diO
eased lots are traced to their source
The bureau keeps track of such ship
ments aH' ne''ties state officials at the