146 



ANNUAL REPORT OF THE 



Off. Doc. 



The table shows that about ten per cent, of the cattle tested were 

 tuberculous. Herds tested at the ex})ense of the State were known to 

 contain animals which showed suspicious symptoms of the disease. 

 The scope of the work has been too limited to form any definite con- 

 clusion as to the extent to which the disease exists throughout the 

 State, yet it is believed to be considerably less than ten per cent. 

 There are approximately one hundred and ninety-one thousand dairy 

 herds in the State with an average of five head to the herd, less than 

 one per cent, of these were tested during the current year. Notwith- 

 standing this apparent small showing certain sections are rapidly 

 gaining the reputation of being comparatively free from tuberculosis. 



The increasing demand for dairy products Avith the consequent 

 increase in demand for dairy cattle have stimulated the importation 

 of such animals into the State. To supply this demand has led some 

 to endeavor to import cattle from other states without complying 

 with the law which makes an inspection and tuberculin test com- 

 pulsory. Active measures have been adopted to suppress this illegal 

 traflSc. 



During the year reports were received on twenty-three thousand nine 

 hundred and eighty-two head of breeding and dairy cattle shipped 

 into the State and tested under the act approved May 20, 1897. and 

 amended by the act of April 5th, 1905. Of this number three hun- 

 dred and thirty head were condemned as tuberculous. It may appear 

 inconsistent that 9.95 per cent, of our native tested animals should 

 react while only 1.38 per cent, of the interstate cattle tested should 

 fail to pass the test. 



It should be noted that the test is applied to our native cattle in 

 most cases where tuberculosis is suspected. On the other liand those 

 purchased from other states and tested for us are from herds believed 

 to be free from the disease. We should not conclude from these figures 

 that the difference is due to trickery or dishonesty entirely, or that 

 other states have less tuberculosis than we do. 



CATTLE IMPORTED INTO THE STATE FOR DAIRY OR BREEDING PUR- 

 POSES AND TUBERCULIN TESTED UNDER ACT APPROVED MAY 

 26, 1897, AS AMENDED BY THE ACT OF APRIL 5, 1905. 



From .lanuary 1st, 1911, to December 31st, 1911 



