Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1928-04-20
Prevent Spread
# Hog Cholera
Infection May Be Carried
From Contaminated Places
to Clean Yards.

prepared by the United States Department
OF Agriculture.)
Ii IS positively known that the in
lection of hog cholera may be car
ried from contaminated sources TO
clean premises, from the sick herd to
the healthy me-. Though some of the
means of conveying the disease are
still obscure, there are several we'll
known channels Of infection. Against
these the swine owners may readily
guard in protecting their herds.
The most dangerous factor in the
spread of this disease, say veterinary
specialists of the United States De-
partment of Agriculture, is the con-
tact Of hogs sick with cholera with
susceptible hogs, that is, hogs that
have not been immunized. Sick hogs
should be kept apart from the re-
mailder OF the herd and should be
well fenced in, thus eliminating the
danger Of their escaping and mingling
with healthy though susceptible hogs.
On the other hand farmers should
keep all hogs protected against roam
ing hogs by having hog-tight fences.
Ways Infection Spreads.
The introduction into the herd of
new stock hogs coming from either
small local stockyards or from local
sales has carried cholera to entire
herds in many instances. These small
assembling and loading yards become
contaminated with cholera and the dis
ease, rs a rule, goes with the hogs
purchased there. There is the same
danger in buying hogs at public sale,
as well as in borrowing for breeding
purposes and in returning hogs from
fairs or other exhibitions. Unless
the home herd carries immunity
against cholera, new stock hogs
brought to the farm should be kept
by themselves we'll removed from the
others for at least 81 days. The
lending and borrowing of breeding
stock should be done with great pre-
caution TO avoid the spread of cholera.
The failure of swine owners to
burn or bury the hogs that die on
their premises has resulted In many
al outbreak of hog cholera. This is
the factor that enables the dog and
the buzzard to carry cholera infection
to other farms. All diseased animals
that die on the farm should be prop
erly disposed of by either burning or
burying deeply.
The feeding Of table scraps and
garbage to nonimmune hogs is a dan
gerous practice from the standpoint
of cholera infection. Such feed may
contain trimmings, rind and bones
originating from cholera-infected pork,
and the virus of the disease may be
conveyed to the herd.
The stock-food peddler and the hog
buyer going from farm to farm, and
from n hog lot or pen to another,
are still regarded as potential factors
in the carrying of cholera infection.
These men go to many places In the
course of the day and may tramp
through infected premises. There is
always a possibility that the virus of
cholera may be carried in the mud
or anu IN shoes, hoofs of horses,
and wheels of wagons.
Small streams, brooks and canals,
in which cholera-sick hogs wallow be-
come contaminated and the infection
carried by the current may attack
susceptible hogs having access to
these waters. Hogs not immunized
should be kept away from such
streams.
While other possible means of trans
mission may be enumerated, those
mentioned are considered the CHIEF
ones. If these factors are guarded
against, much will be done to prevent
the spread Of cholera and to reduce
losses. However, since it is q difficult
matter to safeguard against all these
dangers, the safe and positive method
to follow In sections producing many
hogs is that of immunization of the
herd. This done as yearly procedur,
will remove all anxiety as to the safe
ty of the animals. 1t should not bt
forgotten, however, that sanitation IL
the raising of swine has much to d,
with the health and thriftiness n NJ
herd.