Montana oil and mining journal., 1939-01-21
RANGES IN 1888
BEST In YEARS
DR. w. J. BUTLER, STATE vETER-
MARIAN REVIEWS LIVE
STOCK SITUATION
In Annual Report Official Points Out
That Temporary Decrease IN Graz
ing Animals May Prove TO Be Bless
ing I'm Disguise.


( during 1888 were "the best for
many years" DR.. w. ]. Butler,
state veterinarian and executive
officer of the state livestock sani-
tary board, said in his annual re-
port on activities of that state de-
partment.
Truly, Montana is a veritable live
stock paradise when we get sufficient
| moisture" the report stated. Mon
/ tana has proved to the world that no
one need worry about our standing as
livestock state or of the rehibilita-
tion of our ranges just as long as we
get moisture.
I'm general, during 1888 our live
stock conditions have been good and
the price Of livestock fairly re-
munerative."
The report pointed out, however,
that the states livestock population
has been decreased, due principally to
the drouth which prevailed during
earlier years.
Blessing In Disguise
Perhaps this has been a blessing
In disguise, in that it gave our ranges
an opportunity to come back" the re-
port continued. I'VE now have a good
section of Montana"
DR.. Butler added there always is
danger Of the states livestock con-
tracing disease when attempts to re-
stock Montana ranges are made, par
ticularly If the restocking Is done
from states where disease Is present.
Livestock of Montana Is, and has
been, remarkably free from disease.
We must keep it that way. It behooves
Ia
range to purchase animals of known
quality and Of known freedom from
disease" the report added.
On number Of fronts, the state
was entirely free from disease during
the past year, the report said.
There were no cases Of CHAMBERS or
dourine in horses during 1887 and
1888 and horse scab does not exist In
Montana at the present time. The
entire state is a modified accredited
tuberculosis-free area and has been
certified as such by the United States
bureau of animal industry. During
1898. 4OO13 cattle in Montana were
given tuberculin tests and Of the num-
Der only is reacted to the test, for 8
percentage of .O0037.
There is no scabies among cattle of
the state and anthrax has not been
reported, or observed, during the past
several years. The state during 1888
continued to be free Of sheep scab,
maintaining its record of not having
the disease In native sheep for the
past 20 years.
Sleeping Sickness
During the year, however, there
were reported In the state II, 1,84o cases
OF encephalomyelitis Of horses, the
disease-sometimes known as sleeping
his 4vz
and resulting In 4,213 deaths. The |
death loss was estimated at S5.5 per- |
cent. as compared with 33.5 percent !
during 1887, although there were many |
more cases reported last year than In |
1897.
Fortunately new method Of pre-
pairing q vaccine to protect against /
equine encephalomyelitt has been de- |
vised-the commonly called chick |
vaccine which is obtained from inocu-
lated chicken egg and is said to be
100000 times more potent than the
vaccine obtained from brain tissue"
the report said IN this connection.
~At this writing two doses are neces-
sary Tin order to prevent infecton),
the second dose to follow the first In
about seven days. Probably by spring,
or at some later date, biological
laboratories viii have devised q vac
cine where one dose win immunize
against the disease"
The report said the department has
co-operated with the federal bureau of
animal industry for the past six years
In fl1rthering the endeavor to prove
that calfhood vaccination with a spe-
cial vaccine Is 'a successful and prac-
tical way to control Bangs disease.
We do not countenance or approve the
promiscuous vaccination Of cattle or
any domestic animal with any living
virus vaccine or the vaccination OF
older animals or pregnant animals"
Control Bangs Disease
The report also said experience had
Taught the department proper herd
VIII help to control and
eradicate Bangs disease, which is
more commonly referred to as infec-
-tous or contagious abortion
by proper herd management, we
mean the establishment OF a mater
nifty pasture where cows that are
about to calve may be placed so they
give birth to their calf in a pasture
ISOLATED from the main herd" the
said.
The report also pointed out rabies,