Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1936-01-25
PRIZE i. s. CATTLE
MYSTER|OUSLYH|T
BY TUBERCULOSIS
BeItsviIIe Farm Experts Un-
able to Explain Sudden
Outbreak.
JUSTICE AGENTS MAY
PROBE FOR SABOTAGE
SO Fine Milk Cows Out Of 800
in Herd Stricken and Con.
demend to Death.

Agriculture Department officials
were mystified today by sudden out
break Of tuberculosis among the finest
COWS of its dairy herd at the Belts
vile, Nd, research center.
Disease eradication experts of the
Bureau Of Animal Industry were
working in cooperation with the
Bureau Of Dairy Industry to deter
mine, II possible, the cause of the
outbreak which struck 80 prime milk
producers. Their investigation had
revealed nothing to date.
Although the possibility of sabo-
tage was minimized by officials, the
Justice Department may be asked to
investigate If any clues along this
line are developed. DR.. o. E. Reed,
chief Of the Bureau of Dairy Industry.
said, however. he would not ask
Justice Department aid.
Are Tested Quarterly.
Each COW in the herd of 800 is
tested quarterly. October inspection
revealed all but one was free of tuber-
culosis. This one was destroyed i'm
mediately. DR.. Reed said it was Writ
ually inconceivable this COW could
have infected Others
Another test was made about 10
days ago. To the dismay and aston
ishment Of officials, Sc cows reacted,
showing definite traces of tuberculosis.
Three others showed suspicious symp-
toms. All 80 were isolated imme-
diately and condemned to death.
The afnicted cows are being killed
daily, about Is already having been
destroyed. Still alive, but condemned
like her companions, is a COW which
has been producing 100 pounds of
butterfat a month"; notable achieve
ment. according to dairy experts.
Between 30 and 40 tubercular COWS
will be kept under close observation
during the investigation, DR.. Reed
said. Studies with them may re-
veal the cause of the outbreak.
All Fine Stock.
The Beltsville herd, all fine Jersey
and Holsteins with good production
records, has been accredited" for 10
years. This designation Is awarded
by the Agriculture Department only
to the healthiest herds. The value of
scientific data collected throughout
this period is reduced greatly by the
recent outbreak, officials mourned.
Its a big setback for us and
we're going to do everything possible
to find out what's behind it." said DR..
Reed.
The tuberculosis epidemic was re-
garded as giving weight to argument
against establishment Of wild life
refuge at Beltsville advanced by DR..
w. E. Cotton. in charge of disease
research there. The Biological Survey
has proposed designating the whole
farm area as q game sanctuary. DR..
Cotton opposes the idea on grounds
that the wild life may transmit dis
ease from infested animals to healthy
ones.
Milk Had Been Sold.
Raw milk from the tubercular COWS
was sold to employees at the Beltsville
farm almost up to the time the out
break was discovered, it was learned
today. Department scientists said,
however, there was little or no danger
Of the milk's having been tainted,
since the disease was discovered in its
early stages. It is only VIII bovine
tuberculosis is far advanced and the
milk sacs affected that the milk con-
tains germs. The disease was dis
covered only in head glands and lungs,
officials said.
Sale of raw milk from the Belts
vile herd to farm employees was
stopped almost coincidental with dis
covery of the outbreak, but for an
other reason. It had been distributed
to employees because there were no
commercial diaries in the vicinity
which could supply them. When one
was found, arrangements were made
for deliveries and the BeltSville milk
was sold no longer.
Cream from the same herd Is sold
to Agriculture Department employees,
but it has been pasteurized, guaran-
teeing it against any faint.
I'VE have no evidence that the COWS
have been spreading the disease
through the milk" one official said.