The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1923-11-23
HOG CHOLERA ON INCREASE.

FED states department OF agriculture
indicate that hog cholera Is becom-
ing more prevalent this fall than in
any year since the decline or the
last extensive } outbreak, which
reached its height in 1914. During
the spring and early summer isolat-
ed outbreaks appeared here and
there in various States. Owing 10 the
comparative freedom Of most States
from cholera, the expense Of procur-
ing serum, virus, and veterinary
service, the high price OF corn and
the seemingly low price o. hogs,
many farmers failed to have their
herds immuniZed last spring,-as a
consequence there is in the country
an unusually large proportion OF
susceptible animals. Reports show
that cholera has appeared recently
In communities which have been
free Of this disease for twenty 1--WE
years. In many localities It gained
considerable Roadway before hog
raisers realized the real nature Of
the trouble. In too many instances
the disease was diagnosed as hem
orrhaigc septieemia, influenza, in
cholera. The large amount OF adver-
Using literature sent out by CONNER
cial concerns supplying hog remedies
has had the effect OF producing much
doubt and confusion among swine
growers in regard to the diseases OF
swine, and also considerable indie
cision among veterinary practition-
ers in some sections in regard to
diagnosis. No doubt many herds in
which breaks" occurred this fall
have been allowed to die from hog
cholera because veterinary practi-
TONERS have been reluctant to dag
nose cholera in herds which had
previously received the simultane-
Gus treatment. Bureau veterinarians
authorities and devoting their entire
time to hog cholera work often have
difficulty in convincing farmers that
the disease from which their hogs
are dying is hog cholera instead Of
worms, indigestion, hemorrhagtc
septicemia, mixed infection" or
some other disease concerning which
they had obtained information from
advertising literature. Notwithstand-
ing all that has been said Of other
swine diseases, hog cholera con-
tinues to be the greatest menace to
the swine industry Of this country
and both hog producers and veter-
mary practitioners should keep this
in mind. The active virus Of cholera
is present in the country continuous
ly and it is not safe when one or
more hogs in herd get sick to de-
lay from day to day in seeking as
sistance In the hope that the condi-
ton may disappear. Most Of the
losses this fall are due to the neglect
of farmers to call their veterinarians
In time to administer the preventive
| treatment before the infection has
had time to reach all of the swine In
the herd. Remember that the serum
treatment Is a preventive and not
cure. Unless hog owners and vet
Urinary practitioners are on the
alert and act promptly, the losses
will be unusually heavy this fall.
| According to the United
States department Of Agricul;
States suffered loss last year
Of approximately s29, zoo, 900
from hog cholera. Approximately
four per cent Of hogs on farms
| died OF that disease during the
year The department calls at
=, tention to the fact that this loss
is absolutely preventable II
| farmers will follow the instruc-
| lions Of the bureau Of animal in
| dustry in the treatment of their
herds when cholera appears.
PLEDGED TO USE PuREsREDs
Farmers who have Joined the Bet
ter Sires- Better Stock campaign,
and by so doing pledged themselves
to use only purebred sires of any
kind on their farms. now number
more than 1900 according TO the
latest figures published by the
United States department of agri-
culture. This campaign was begun
by. various States and the depart
ment four years ago and has been
gaining Roadway ever since. During
the sixteenth quarter OF this period,
the three months ending September
80, 469 persons enrolled from IL
States. Each farmer who signs the
pledge lists the number of different
kinds Of livestock owned, and the
records now show that those taking
improvement own nearly 100000
animals and close to 1000, 900 head
Of poultry. The states now having
the largest membership are Ohio.
with 2,75S; Virginia, with 2,227:
Kentucky, with 1,50S; and Nebraska.
with 1.439. Kentucky and Vermont
made the largest gains in the last
three months. The countries making
the best showing in this period were
Windsor County, Vermont and
Union County, Kentucky. but Pulaski
County. Virginia, Is still far In the
lead of all countries with a mem
bership OF 578 farmers and breeders
During the last quarter twenty new
members were added in this county.
The records kept by the Department
or Agriculture show some interest
ling facts concerning the livestock
owned by those who have signed the
pledges. All the males kept must be
purebred, but females may be pure
bred, crossbred, grade or scrub.
There are more purebred females
among the swines kept than in any
other kind Of animals listed-62 Q
per cent. Cattle come second in this
respect. AS high as 70 per cent of
the mares are grades; sheen come
next in this respect Only 1 per
cent Of the swine are classed as
scrubs: IL per cent OF the sheen.
3.3 per cent OF the cattle: and 4 /
per cent Of horses. These figures.
IL must be remembered, apply only
to these farms where nothing but
purebred sires are used. Many of
the farms of the members of the
/ Better Sires- Better Stock campaign
may be identified from the highway
! by a sign, supplied by the depart
ment, which bears the words Pure
ibred Sires Exclusively FUSED on
This Farm" Each sign bears the
owners membership number.
Il Az =