Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1921-03-03
CAM AIGNIS
ON To CLEANUP
TUBERCULOSIS

Il II
Wisconsin is taking the lead in The
matter of freeing it's herds of cattle
from the ravages of tuberculosis. As
| a state it was also in the lead in the
matter of fighting tuberculosis among
it's people and has been SO successful
in this that at the present time Wis
consin ranks third among all the states
of the nation in it's freedom from the
disease.
The campaign is now reaching out
with the idea of removing the disease
from the livestock of the state and in
so doing to remove one of the greatest
of direct and indirect causes of human
tuberculosis that is known
There are three systems of tubercu-
losis eradication that are being follow
ed at the present time by our state
and federal leaders in Wisconsin. The
first, the area test centers around some
such center as the cheese factory or
the creamery where the patrons wish
to have their herbs tested. If there
are 800 or more head of cattle to be
tested in the district the state does
the work free of charge Only one
test is pot on each herd provided it
shows a clean test. The intradermal
or tail test is the type of test usually
employed in the area test.
The second system and the plan that
is to be encouraged in Wood County
is similar to the above plan except
that it covers the entire County rather
than only part of it. The same form
of test is also used in the county plan
as in the smaller area test. The
County plan allows for the testing of
every head of cattle in the county so
that when completed the herds of
Wood County will be free from the
disease. In putting on this test it is
necessary for over fifty per cent of
the livestock owners to sign the ap-
plications for the County test. 1t is
hoped that when the application forms
are circulated that they will bear the
signatures of 100 per cent of the live
stock owners of Wood County. Judg-
ing from an informal vote that has
been taken in regard to the County
test at various meetings in Wood
County recently it would seem that
the sentiment is unanimous in favor
Of the County plan. At the annual
meeting of the Central Wisconsin Hol-
stein Breeders Association at Marsh
field, February 10th, the seventy mem
bers present were heartily in favor of
the test The resolution was also
adopted here that the Fair Associa-
ton only allow animals to be shown
hat had come from herds showing a
clean herd test not less than twelve
months previous to the time of show
ing At the Guernsey meeting the
following day the same sentiment was
shown and the same resolution adopt
ed. Indications are that the County
est will be gladly supported by the
livestock owners of Wood County and
by the entire population since the
matter of public welfare and of health
is at stake.
The third of test is the one
known as the Accredited Herd System.
In this test the State and Federal
Departments cooperate in handling
the test. The herds may first be test
ed by the intradermal or simultaneous
methods and if a clean herd test is
made, credit is given the herd to this
.xtent. A second test where the sub
cutaneous method is used is applied a
wear later and if the herd shows a
clean test the second time it is put on
the Federal Accredited Herd List for
a period of one year, at which time the
herd must be retested. A herd that
is listed as an accredited herd is sub
ject to certain restrictions and regu-
lations which serve to protect said
herd from unnecessary infection.
Animals from these herds comply
with the Interstate shipping laws and
may be shipped into any state in the
union for period of twelve months
after the test without having the usu-
al test applied again. This is the form
of test most desirable, and many of
Wood County's herds are already in
this list and more are being tested
each month. The testing force work
ing under this plan is limited, how
ever, and is therefore unable to follow
the area testing plan.
The big idea at the present time is
to eliminate the few reactors, the in
facted animals from Wood County
herds as soon as possible while the
percentage is still low. Prevention
! i better than all kinds of cure after
the disease becomes widespread.
Barron County recently finished its
County Test and celebrated the event
| literally Less than one percent OF
all the animals tested reacted to the
test, but had these few animals re
! NAMED to infect the other cattle fol-
a few years, the loss would have beer