Milford chronicle., 1928-12-21
NEED FUND TO FIGHT
CATTLE TUBERCULOSIS
[Csatiass6 frOm 6rH SGSsl

Delaware live stock is lack of funds.
IF sufficient appropriations can
be obtained for this work, it is be-
lieved that the entire state can be
cleaned up in a few years. The
money appropriated for this work
goes directly back to the people of
the State in indemnities to the far
mers for reacting cattle. The only
other expenditures from this fund
are the salaries, travelling expenses
and supplies of the two inspectors
employed by the State The other
two inspectors are employed by the
Federal Government and are paid
from Federal funds. The Federal
Government also aids the State to
the extent of paying one-third the
indemnity of reacting animals.
The State Board of Health has
materially assisted this work by is
suing regulation that no raw
milk shall be sold in the State I'M
less it comes from tuberculin tested
cattle. This regulation is not in
tended to force herd owners to have
their cattle tested, but to protect
the people of the State from the
danger of milk containing germs of
tuberculosis.
Mr.. Wilson said the milk stations
of Delaware have also cooperated in
this work to great extent. For the
past few years most of the stations
have required that all patrons deliv-
ering milk. to them, sign an agree
ment to have their cattle tested as
soon as the State Board of Agricul-
ture could take up the work. This
regulation has become necessary
because of the fact that many of the
cities into which Delaware milk is
being delivered, are now requiring |
that all milk shall be from tested |
herds. The eradication of bovine |
tuberculosis is not only a movement |
to improve the cattle but an effort |
to protect and improve the health |
of the people. Mr.. Wilson said:
1T is impossible to OVer-empha- |
size the Importance of the milk in
dustry to Delaware. The State
Board of Agriculture has made a
survey of eleven of the principal
milk stations in the State. These
stations pay to the farmers of Della
ware over $2,300,000 annually for
milk. The milk industry is one of
the principal sources of income to
the farmers of this State.
During the past year, several of
the milk stations issued an ultimat-
um that no milk would be accepted
by them unless it came from tuber.
culin tested herds. When this ac-
ton was taken requests for tuber-
cuiin tests flooded the office of the
State Board of Agriculture in great
er numbers than could be taken care Z
of. Every effort was made to push ,
this work and, by the end of June, :
1928, five of the milk stations of .
the State were receiving milk only s
from tested herds. Although all the !
dairymen shipping milk to these
five plants have been placed under !,
State Federal Supervision and have
received at least their initial test,
it does not mean the work on these {
plants is completed. 1t is necessary
to continue testing each herd until
it is accredited, which means at
least two, and usually more tests"
Mr.. Wilson said that this neces-
states not only the testing of each
animal, but also requires that the C
State Board of Agriculture supply Il
the stations with an official record
Of every herd furnishing them milk. Ii
In some cases the cities into which
the milk is being delivered require +
a list of this character. He stated +
that there are approximately 1873 A
Delaware farmers shipping to the S
eleven stations in Delaware 1t is
that about 1923 of these N
herds are already under supervis- N
ion. This would leave 749 herds to q
be tested n
There have been several cases."
said Mr.. Wilson, where the owner 9
If a herd had previously refused N
est by the State-Federal inspectors, NJ
,r had violated the terms of his n
agreement after his cattle were
ested. Most of such owners not NJ
,nly requested that their herds VI
gain be taken under State-Federal W, w
but were willing to -
tand the first test at their own ex- eI
'ense, employing a practicing vet
rinarian and bearing the loss of -
ny reactOrs, if they could again n
lave their herds placed under SUI w
M
while more cattle were tested
uring the last year, 1927-192S than 1,
uring 1926-1927, more reactors W
we're found during the first year, Ci
926-1927 This is due to the fact M
hat, because of the decreased ap-
ropTiation for the year 1927-192S, c..
more cattle were tested Bs
uring that year, it was impossible 10
} take on so many new herds, CT
here reactors might be found
his made it necessary to confine 2,
good deal of the work to retest- Nc
lg of herds which were not yet Ge
ccredited." so,