Milford chronicle., 1937-05-07
Delaware VIII Nor Pay
For Condemned Cattle

6;538 tests over the number during
the previous year. At the end of
June, 1885, the number of cattle un-
der supervision for the eradication
Of Bangs Disease consisted of 4,647
cattle, I'm 225 herds.
The number of cattle under super
vision does not, of course, consti-
tute the number of cattle tested dur
ing the year. as II is the State and
Federal policy to retest infected
herds every sixty to ninety days,
and to retest clean herds about three
or four times a year, until they are
accredited. The records of the tests
on Delaware herds show that the
percentage of reactors found on the
initial (first) tests is about 1879,
while the infection found on the sec
ond tests is about 40. and that on
the fourth tests Of the same herds
about 2h%o.
When a herd has been free from
Bangs Disease over the period of
year, passing from three to four
negative tests under State-Federal
supervision during that time. 1t is
officially recognized as an accredit-
ed herd, and the owner can maintain
this accredited herd status by hav-
ing his herd retested annually.
Should any reactors be found in an
accredited herd, they are eligible for
indemnity, and the herd is again
tested by State of Federal inspectors
until Il can be re-accredited.
During the fiscal year ending June
80, 1886, the State Board of Agricul-
ture collected and tested 1887 blood
samples. At the end of June, 1896.
the number of cattle under State
Federal supervision for the eradica-
tion of Bangs Disease had increased
to 6,473 cattle, in 1863 herds. At the
end of March. 1887. the number had
increased to 1882 cattle, in 463
herds.
The rapid rate of increase in the
cattle being placed under supervis-
ion for the eradication OF Bangs
Disease shows the value of the work
to the farmers and the economic i'm
portance to them In freeing herds
from this disease, as well as the I'M
portance from a public health stand
poiHt. The passage of the bill pro-
yiding State indemnity makes it
possible for many cattle owners who
had not previously felt financially
able to have their herds tested, be-
cause of the loss involved when re-
actors were found, to place their
herds under supervision, eliminate
their diseased cattle, and build up |
healthy, profitable herds. During the |
period before this bill was passed. |
the State Board of Agriculture re-
ceived daily inquiries In regard to |
its progress, and many herd owners |
requested that their names be plac-
ed on a mailing list, to be notified as
soon as the bill was passed. Immedi-
ately after the passage of the bill.
cattle owners from over the entire
State, called at the office in person
to sign applications for their herds I
to be tested, and DIR. Sarde notified
all those ON the mailing list. The
State Board of Agriculture desires to
have this opportunity OF expressing
their appreciation to the Legislature
and the Governor for their coopera-
ton in making this work possible.
Another important factor in the
testing of cattle for Bangs Disease
Is the fact that every State in the
country has regulations to the eff
fect that cattle are not permitted to
be transported from one state into
another unless they have passed a
negative Bangs Disease test within
.hirty days or are from accredited
ierds. The volume of the interstate
,hipment of cattle makes It vitality
important to the cattle owners TO
,ave this service available to them.
The State Board of Agriculture
will be glad to have any herd own I
RS who are interested in eradicat-
ne Bangs Disease from their herds
write or call at the office of >the I
board. in Dover, Delaware.