Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1922-01-20

Owner and
Prepared by the United States Department
OF Agrlculture.)
For many years after the agitation
regarding bovine tuberculosis began
there were very few people who enter
tanned the hope that II would ultimate
" be eradlcated. Now, after many
years of effort, first unsuccessful, but
now giving great promise OF success,
there are many who firmly believe that
the time Is coming when this scourge
Of live stock will be conquered.
tuberculosis May Be Banished.
This change of attitude has been
brought about largely through the eff
forts Of the bureau of animal Industry
of the United States Department OF
Agriculture, cooperating with the vari-
Gus state officials, which have been so
successful that within Il period OF four
years, during which the work has been
directed toward ultimate elimination,
several thousand herds have been nc.
credited as being free from the disease
and number of stable areas In diff
ferent states contain practically no
tuberculous cattle. These results have
demonstrated concluslvely that, II suf-
fclent funds are made available, this
menace TO human health and to the
success Of livestock farming may be
done away with in practical manner.
tuberculosis of cattle IL one Of the
few farm problems that appeals with
almost equal force to city people, for
the healthfulness of milk and meat Is
Of vital importance to them. This fact
ought to make 1t easier to get the sup
port necessary for putting through
such n countrywide program against
the disease. The cattle resources Of
the country are Of the utmost import
ance. and measures to reduce the risk
Of loss represent nothing more than
common sense.
Insurance Feature Appeals.
There are more than G6,000,000 head
Of cattle in the country worth nearly
81, 600 100000. Aside from the health
aspect OF ts'e problem, the insurlng Of
this vast amount Of wealth against
loss ought TO appeal to all classes Of
people as n necessary measure for the
,nnd nf rho NATHAN
AT the present time various state
and federal agencies are testing about
10000 cattle Il month and eliminating
those that are found to be tuberculous,
but It is expected that In the near fu-
ture probably 100000 head will be
tested monthly by the combined forces.
On that basis II Is easy TO see that
great progress will be made toward
getting rid Of the plague, for the evil
dence obtained shows that the methods
now In use are practical. When the
campaign began most OF the stress was
laid on cleaning up individual herds.
and this was the only practical thing
10 do as not enough sentiment had
been aroused to make II possible to
get general support for campaign In
any locality. But the advantage gained
by cattle breeders who were able to
advertise tuberculosis free herds was
so great that skeptics were convinced,
and now many localities have taken up
the problem and are rapidly cleaning
up all herds within their boundaries.
In fact, ut the present time this meth
cd Of cleaning up circumscrlbed areas
is the predominant one.
Nine counties In the United States
have now completed one or more Off
cIal tuberculosis tests OF the cattle
within those areas and about 90 coun-
ties are now either engaged In this
work or are getting ready TO take II
up. In some of the counties the super
ylsors appropriate funds to employ In
spectors who help the state and fed
era officials. In others the farm bu-
reaus have taken the Job In hand.
HiIisdals County Model.
One of the best examples Of what O
county can do In getting rid Of this
destructive disease is found In Hills
dale county. Mich. On October "A q
campalgn was launched with the idea
Of cleaning ont all the diseased cattle
A force OF 80 county, state, and fed
eral inspectors was organized. They
divided up the territory, giving part
OF a township TO each man. The coun
~ farm bureau furnished AUTOMOBILES
that were driven by the farmers whf
were leaders In the communities ant
had influence with the livestock own
ers. By November every herd ir th'
county had been tested.
There were 2,330 herds, containing
15T73 cattle, and 3T5 reaQtors wer,
found. This means that about "a pei
cent Of the cattle In the county hat
the disease--a rather low percentage
In sections where the disease is n,
more extensive than this, the cost o
cleanup is almost negligible when com
pared with the good that must ultl
mately come from 1t. In this count,
the farmers and breeders, and In fac
ali the people Of the county. were en-
thuslastic, which helped great den
toward getting the work done in sue
short time.
other Counties Become interested.
Some of the most progressive live
stock counties in various parts Of tn
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