No. 6. 



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



147 



The first concerted efforts for the control of tuberculosis in dairy 

 herds were made in eighteen hundred and ninety-six. The work has 

 been continued each year in proportion to the amount of funds avail- 

 able for the purpose. During that time the percentage of reactors 

 has fluctuated, but there is shown a steady decrease from approxi- 

 mately twenty-two pei' cent, in eighteen hundred and ninety-six to 

 less than ten per cent, during the past year. This decrease may be 

 due to various influences, but it indicates that the conservative meas- 

 ures adopted have been fruitful and if gradually extended will even- 

 tually accomplish the desired object. In connection with this, herd 

 owners should realize the economic importance of building up their 

 herds from the produce of their own healthy animals and not depend 

 so largely upon buying animals of doubtful origin to take the places 

 of those turned off. 



The following table has been compiled as a comparative summary 

 of the conditions found in native herds during the entire period 

 over which the work has extended: 



RECORD OF TUBERCULIN TESTS ON NATIVE CATTLE 



1896, 



1897, 



1898, 



1899, 



1900, 



1901, .._ 



1902, 



1903, 



1904, 



1905, — 



1906, 



1907, 



1908, 



1909, 



1910, -. 



1911, 



Totals and averages, 

 per cent., 



Respectfully submitted, 



WM. S. GIMPER, 



Director. 

 To C. J. Marshall, State Veterinarian. 



Respectfully submitted, 



C. J. MARSHALL, 

 State Veterinarian, 



