The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1924-06-19
Somerset County Agricultural News
Men Who Have Had Their Herds
Tested for L. h. Are Asked 10
Read this Article

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herd work.
Due to the increased call for tu-
bereulosis eradication work in Som
erset County and the methods which
have been followed in carrying II on
there must be an accounting made
soon. Men who have had their herd
tested from six to seven times are not
entitled longer to free test nor are
they using others in their neighbor-
hood fair when they ask for the test.
whereas many have never had one.
The free cooperative tuberculin
test when requested by farmers is
conducted in accordance with the laws
and regulations of the state and feder-
al government relative TO bovine tu-
bercnlosis eradication.
H. NJ Tucker, chief of the division
of animal industry, state department
of agriculture under whose direction
the testing of cattle for tuberculosis
is conducted, has furnished the fol-
lowing information relative TO Ger
tain points commonly raised regard
ing the regulations governing the ac-
credited herd work:
|. The federal bureau has restrict
ed the issuing of accredited herd Ger
tilieates to those herds containing
ten animals or more.
.. The state department of agri-
culture, division of animal industry,
will issue a certificate of the results
of tuberculin test to the owner Of
each herd tested. Whenever an ac-
credited herd owner with less than ten
COWS. desires a certificate showing
that his herd is accredited, the chief
of the division Of animal industry
will furnish evidence to this effect
on the state test certificate.
2. The accredited herd certificate
is good one year from the date of
the last test, and when once accredit-
ed by the cooperative plan, the obli-
cation of the state and federal bu-
reau ceases and the owner must en-
ploy one of the accredited veterina
rians that are recommended by the
bureau for that work. When such
test is made annually by an ac-
credited yeterinariahthe herd Will re-
main on the accredited list and Ger
tificate issued for each test so made,
provided the rules and regulations
governing the work are complied
with, herd TO be subject to retest
whenever deemed necessary by state
and government officials.
4. Those making application for
the free cooperative test will be re-
quired to sign an agreement issued
by the U. S. Department of Agricul-
ture, except In city areas where the
local ordinance requires all milk
dealers to have their cows tested.
As a result of organizing the test
ing in different communities. 1000
cows were tested in this county last
year. If itghad not been for the ex-
tension service and Farm Bureau of
some similar organization, which was
ready to assist in interesting farmers
in the accredited herd work, it is
probable that many livestock breeders
would have been unable to secure the
free cooperative test and a much few
or number of cattle would have been
tested.
1t should be understood, however,
by all livestock owners that neither
the extension service nor the Farm
Bureau, regulates the conditions UNI
der which the test is made, is not re-
sponsible for its supervision or the
1ulPS anu ltbuidtlplio 6CN'i iiiii6 III
testing of cattle for tuberculosis. The
state department of agriculture thru
the chief of animal industry, has
charge of this work.
The Somerset Farm Bureau and ex-
tension service have for number
of years throughout their Organiza-
ton assisted linen In securing the
free cooperative test. Such assis-
lance is limited largely to the local
efforts of the people. The extension
agent at the planning meeting in each
community explains the value of ac-
credited work to the present. If
there Is sufficient interest in this work
leader of the project is elected--to
assist in determining these people in
the town who wish to have their COWS
tested for tuberculosis, make arrange
ments for the transportation of the
tester and assist in notifying farmers
when the veterinarian will be at
their place so that cattle may be in
the barn when the tester arrives.