THE AGFJCULTURAL NEWS' 



It Pays 



TO Eradicate Ticks! 



The Results of Tick Eradication work in the United States 



OATTUS TIOK 



A vigorous co-operative campaign for the eradication of the cattle tick in the South and South-West States of North 

 America, has been in progress since 1906, the work being conducted jointly by the Bureau of Animal Industry of the United 

 States Department of Agriculture and the State and county authorities. 220,000 sqiuire miles (an area greater than France) has 

 already been completely cleared of ticks. An effort has recently been made to secure direct evidence from the cattlemen and 

 farmers concerned as to the results of the work. For this purpose a circular letter embodying the following questions v^as 

 widely distributed amon.g the stockmen and farmers in 11 different States. The questions asked were : — 



1. What has been the average increase her head in the value of cattle in your county since tick eradication began in 1906 ? 



2. What, if any, has been the average per cent, increase in the weight of the cattle since tick eradication began ? 



3. Express in percentage the average increase in grade or quality of the cattle since ticks were eradicated ? 



4. Approximately what per cent, of cattle died annually of fever in your county before tick eradication began ? 



5. What is the probable per cent, of increase in milk production of dairy cows due to the absence of ticks? 



Slightly over 1,000 replies were received in all. The following is a summary of these replies, taking each question in order : — 



1. AVERAGE INCREASE in VALUE of CATTLE SINCE TICK ERADICATION BEGAN in 1906. 



Alabama ... 1^7.70 Arkansas ... $8.31 California ... $15.00 Georgia ... .$8.00 



.Mississippi ... 9.00 North Carolina 8.30 >3 Oklahoma ... 8.20 South Carolina 9.2.5 



Tennessee ... $10.94 Texas ... $13.79 Virginia ... '813.28 



Average of 1 1 States $ 9.76 



110TE.—$S.60 should be deducted from the alove hi<-nasis as repns: tiling t?u: general rise in the uiliie of eatilr which has taken place throughout the country, 



and which cannot, thcrcfot< , he f;aid to be du^ to the ennlii-ntiim of t'cks. 



2. INCREASE IN WEIGHT OF CATTLE. 



The averages for the States ranged from 11 per cent, in Texas to 23 per cent, in Mississippi, and the average per cent, of gain 

 : r the entire tick-free territory was 19.14. In other words, the cattle as a whole are considered to be about one-fifth heavier 

 than before tick destruction was commenced. 



3. INCREASE IN QUALITY OF CATTLE. 



Thelowest State average was 16 percent, for Georgia, and the highest 31 percent Im Mississippi, Tlie average for the 11 States 

 :S 26.91 per cent., which means that the cattle in the tick-free sections at present are rather over one-fourth better in grade or quality. 



This is proof, if proof were needed, that the unprofitable "scrub " animal and the lick go together, and that when the latter 

 -> '.lanished, and not until then, is the influx of pure bred animals on a large and profitable scale possible. 



4. ANNUAL LOSSES BEFORE TICK ERADICATION. 



There is practical unanimity in allowing that considerable losses nere cau>ed h\' Tick fever before the inauguration of the 

 tick eradication work. The figures range from 9 per cent, in Georgia, to 1.5 per cent, in Mississippi and North Carolina, and the 

 average for the 11 States is 13 per cent. This is a trifle over one-eighth of the total cattle. 



It requires but little imagination to see what a serious handicap to the cattle industry of the South an annual loss of this 

 magnitude must be. Some idea of its extent may be had by taking tlie census figures lor cattle in 1910. .■\i:cording to these there 

 were in round numbers 15,000,000 cattle below the Tick quarantine line, with a valuatinn of sli,?!itly over .■* 270.000.000. 



One-eighth of this sum is $34,000,000, which represents roughly the annual lotj from denths alone, iiol counting the depreciation 

 in numerous other «avs, such as stunted growth, discrimination in markets, shrinU.ige in milk production, etc., all of which 

 will more than double the amount named, 



5. INCREASE IN MILK PRODUCTION. 



The owners of dairy cows in the region cleared of ticks are evidently well satisfied with the results of the worU, since 95 per 

 cent, of the replies adrnit there was an increase, usually very substantial, in the yield ol milk. 



The lowest estimates are from Alabama and Georgia, these two States averaging 1 5 per cent, increase in each, while the highest 

 average, 25 per cent, increase, is from North Carolina, closely followed, however, by 24 per cent, each in Mississippi and Oklahoma. 



The average for the 11 States is 23 per cent., which is a gain of nearly one-fovrth in the total Milk yield. 



It is easy to see what a great advantage this would be if it mukl be applied to all the ticky cuws in the South. The 

 additional milk would in the aggregate be worth many millions ni d.ill.-us. 



IT IS CHEAPER TO KILL TICKS THAM TO FEED THEM. 



COOPER'S CATTLE TICK DIP V.'EST IN D IAN AGENTS : 



Hat received the official approval of the following Countries: ST. KITTS : .S. I.. Hor.sf.ird & Co. .\NTUJll.\ : Bennett, Bry-son & Co. 



JAiMAICA: D. Menili-rson i< Co., Kin-,'.<ton. 



Union o! b'oiith .\frica. Northern Rhodesia, Brazil, Kasutoland, orn:'. ADA: T;Mr..<oii. Hankjv & Co. 



Nyasaland, Swaziland, Soulhern Rhodesia, Madagascar, ^''"'"''Camam"^:'^;' v"nvtnan" n'^ 



British East Africa, Oerman East Africa, Portuguese East Africa, tkimhaD: r. Oed.ic , (imni. I'ort of .•iwnin. 



„ ,^,. „ , . BRIIISU (iLIANA: .-andbacll, I'urker & Co. 



Portuguese West Africa, Egypt, Argentine Republic, (Jueensland, sT. VINCENT; Cna .'< Co.. Kincscowi;. Nli\ 15: .s. n. Malone. 



llnitpd Sislcs of America New South Wales IIANUSH Wi;.sT l\DIH-S: Carl V. l.a lUct. .St. rhomas. 



tnited Slates 01 America, l>e» .^ouin naies, AU)M-.sl-RkAr: W. Ilcwdlyn Wall. IKI.MINICA: Hon.li. A.Framoton. 



Northern Territory of Australia. .ST. i.icia: Barnard soils & Co.. Castries. 



Manufacturers : WILLIAM COOPER & NEPHEVi^S, BerJchamsted, England. 



BRANCHES : Ttronio, Chicago, Sydney, Melbourne, Auckland, Buecos Aires, Monte Video, Punta Arenai, Eatt London, Oduuu 



