The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1923-05-17
DR.. w. A. Billings, extension vet

DR.. w. A. Billings, extension vet
erinarian of the University of Min
nesota, on field work in Stearns
County from April oath to 9th, visit
ed several flocks of poultry which he
found badly infested with tuberculo-
sis. DIR. Billings estimates that at
least one half of the flocks in Mime
sofa contain some tubercular birds.
The Stearns County Farm Bureau
has arranged to have DR.. Billings re-
turn to Stearns County for field work
and evening meetings from June 18th
to 14th. Any farmers in the county
having special livestock or poultry
disease problems to contend with in
their flocks of herds, and who will
write in to the Farm Bureau Office
previous to the dates of DIR. Billings
visit, can most likely be included on
the list of farms which will be visited
by the Farm Bureau agent and DR..
Billings on dates on which he is as
signed for work in this county. These
requests for farm visits should be for
warded to the Farm Bureau Office
as soon as possible, giving in all cases
location of farm, township and sec
ton.
The following data on eradication
of tuberculosis, how the disease
spreads and symptoms, is given by
DR.. w. A. Billings.
The germ causing this disease can
only be seen under the microscope.
Since the liver, spleen and intestines
are the organs commonly affected
and as the organs empty in to the in
testines, the droppings which pass
from the birds contain millions of
these minute germs. In this way, the
soil and floor of the chicken house
becomes laden with infection and the
disease is easily picked up by healthy
birds. 1t is generally believed that
poultry do not become infected from
cattle or hogs but this is not def
initely known. Birds dead of tuber-
culosis should be burned for the
carcass may be a source of infection
to the others.
1t may be also that certain of our
wild birds carry infection from flock
to flock.
The internal organs are the ones
usually affected. Soon after infection
the birds are noted to be falling off
In their appetite and appear listless
Their movements are slow and they
are easily caught. AS the disease pro.
crosses, the comb and wattles may
become pale in color. Diarrhea NAV
be noted at this stage and this con.
tinues until the end. The bird now
becomes very thin and there are little
or no breast muscles in some cases
The average breast bone is easily felt
The average handler of poultry usu.
ally speaks of this condition as "goine
light" If bird showing these symp.
toms dies or is killed, the liver is
found to be much enlarged and dot
ted with yellowishwhite spots of varv.
ing sizes and number. These snots
may be found on intestines in the
form OF yellowish Jumps. The spleen,
the small round organ located under
the hVer, may also contain these
spots. If birds show the above com
blnatlon of physical signes and ap-
pear as described inside, one can be
practically sure of the presence OF
tuberculosis.
1t is of absolutely no use to at
tempt the treatment of sick birds
with any sort of medicine or patented
pountry tonics. Preparations which
guarantee to cure this disease are
frauds. Once the bird has the infec.
ton, there is no cure. All efforts
should be directed to prevent othe,
healthy ones from contracting it.
There are two ways in which the
disease may be eradicated. First, il
the flock is small and not of great
value, and if several birds have dice
or are affected, it would probably be
best to destroy the whole flock anc
start over again. Second, If the
flock is large or valuable and it i.
decided to attempt eradication with
out destroying the entire flock, great
care and attention to the smallest de
tails is necessary.
Farmers Cooperation Thrives il
Minnesota - Farmers cooperative
associations in Minnesota increased
from $500 in 1917 to 1850 in 1922
or net gain of 1000 in the ive-yeal
period, according to DR.. H. B. Price
of the University of Minnesota, auth
or of the bulletin, Farmers Coop
Grafton in Minnesota" just issued by
the Minnesota Experiment Station
The volume of business transacted il
the five years increased from $119,
100000 to $144,000,000, or gain Of
$24,930,000.
Nearly one-half of the gain il
numbers was made by the selling Of
marketing organizations which in
creased from 1866 to 1900. The pc
tato and livestock shipping associa
tions and farmers elevators made the
principal gains. Creameries did lit
tie more than hold their own in num-
bers, but added materially to theil
output.
DIR. Price regards the federation OF
local marketing associations for cen.
trail marketing as one of the signifi.
can't developments of recent years
"Unlike some of the first attempts te
market comparatively at central mar
kets. the new organizations are fed
erations of local cooperative market
ing associations rather than associa
tons that are owned by individual
producers, he says. Central mar
-. co orUaniZpd have The