Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1921-11-18
WISCONSIN LEADS In
ACCREDITED HERDS
State Hopes to Maintain It's Top
Place After Two Years of
Remarkable Growth in
Testing Dairy Stock

in and tabulated for Accredited nero
testing for the quarter ending Sept
ember Both, it was found that Wiscon-
sin had 1909 fully accredited herds,
1888 once-tested free herds, and 1924
herds under joint state and federal
supervision. After preliminary in
vestigation of Minnesota's standing
during the National Dairy Show, DR..
]. S. Healy found that she had about
1900 accredited herds, which safely
placed Wisconsin well in the lead of
all states in the Union. This fact is
Of great value to the live stock inter-
ests of Wisconsin, and it will be one
of the major tasks of the state de-
partment Of agriculture to keep Wis
consin in top position, if it can be
done without danger to the integrity
of the test.
Wisconsin now has $4,000 cattle in
accredited herds, $4,000 in once-tested
free herds, and 1925 cattle under
supervision in line for accredited posi-
ton. The Is field men employed joint
ly by the state and federal depart
ments who are doing accredited herd
testing have a long and exceedingly
busy winter season ahead Of them.
The stabling of cattle incident to the
approach of colder weather means
extra incentive for tuberculin testing,
and about 1000 applications are on
file beyond the ability of the depart
ment to Immediately satisfy.
Wisconsin's advance in this work
has been marvellous. Only two years
ago-in August, 1919, to be specific
there were 81 accredited herds in the
state. At that time DIR. Healy had just
taken over the supervision of the sys-
tenn, which had previously been adj
ministered from the federal depart
ment standpoint by DR.. ]. L. Gibson,
of Indianapolis. Wisconsin had pre-
vious to this administered an accred
tied herd system of its own, and in
fact it was in a great measure due to
the Wisconsin idea that accredited
herds came into being throughout the
country. During the last quarter just
ended there were tested 52S herds hav-
ing 11,078 cattle, and of these 122
herds were added to the accredited
herd column. i
What has made this great progress
possible over such brief period of
time? Many factors. First, the cheer
full action of stockmen in contrast to
the suspicion and reluctance toward
the tuberculin test noted decade ago
Second, the area test instituted by the
state department of agriculture, which
in the case of Barron county alone
added many herds to the accredited
list in the last quarter. Third, the
placing of accredited herd testing and
the supervision of men and funds in
charge of one man with authority to
direct campaigns and shape the pol
icies Fourth, cooperation by local
breeders associations, county agricul-
better "luck" in Wisconsin than in
some other states, inasmuch as fewer
accredited herds fell back again be-
cause of subsequent infection. Sixth,
uniformly excellent field service by a
competent corps of veterinarians en-
ployed by the state and federal gov
ernments.
When Barron county was proclaim
ed clean by the area test the breeders
there were given opportunity to join
the state and federal accredited herd
system upon signing the proper pa
pers. On all herds that were in
fected a retest was made, and the re-
gion there was kept under special
quarantine regulations. Two other
counties are now said to be free from
the disease, Bayfield, and Lincoln.
This season work on the area
plan will be resumed in Douglas, Ash
land, Oneida, Dunn and Washburn
counties, and for the most part the in
tradermal test will be used as hereto
fore. Barron county now leads the
state in accredited herds and Wau-
paca county stands second.
"Great credit belongs to DIR. ]. S.
Healy for putting the accredited herd
plan across in Wisconsin" declared
DR.. o. H. Eliason to a representa-
tive of The Wisconsin Farmer last
week.
'He has done remarkable work
with the men and funds available.
There is, however, a tendency to for
get that we are now engaged in this
work under state support as well as
federal aid The state helps to pay
for the service of Dr. Healy and his
field men, and last year change was
made that gave to him full power to
authorize the expenditure Of funds in
this direction. Wisconsin stands where
it should beat the top of the accredi-
ted herd column-and the enterprise
of our stockmen who own more dairy
cattle than those in any other state
should easily help us to maintain
front rank"
The state vatnrin a rian said that thn