200 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



PROTECTING LIVESTOCK FROM FOREIGN PLAGUES. 



Foot-and-moutli disease has continued its ravages in many parts 

 of the world, and its appearance in Jamaica constitutes a distinct 

 menace to the livestock industry of the United States. The bureau's 

 quarantine forces have been constantl}'^ on the alert to prevent its 

 entrance and so far have been successful. Not only are live animals 

 from infected countries excluded, but stringent restrictions are en- 

 forced with regard to products that are likely to carry the infection. 

 In view of the constant danger, plans have been carefully laid for 

 the immediate organization of forces and adoption of measures to 

 combat an outbreak if the disease should appear in this country. 

 Printed matter is on hand ready for use, and inspectors have been in- 

 structed in their duties. 



An example of the danger of the introduction of various infec- 

 tious diseases from abroad is afforded by the finding of organisms of 

 the kind that cause the destructive disease known as surra in the 

 blood of five dromedaries, offered for importation and inspected at 

 one of the bureau's quarantine stations. 



PRACTICAL BENEFITS FROM SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH. 



Results accruing in some of the bureau's research work relative 

 to animal parasites have afforded striking evidence of the practical 

 value of scientific experimentation. The discovery by the bureau 

 that carbon tetrachlorid is an effective remedy in the removal of 

 hookworms of dogs has led to the wholesale application of this 

 treatment against hookworms of human beings in many parts of 

 the world with remarkable success. Investigations regarding round- 

 worms of sheep and swine have made it possible to overcome to a 

 large extent the losses caused by those parasites. Research work on 

 animal diseases and parasites and on various technical problems 

 related to the livestock industry is constantly going forward in the 

 bureau's laboratories and experiment stations. 



LIVESTOCK IMPROVEMENT THROUGH BETTER SIRES. 



The continued demand for information and methods on the im- 

 provement of livestock or the use of better sires have brought about 

 several developments in the systematic effort to improve domestic 

 animals in the country. This work, which began nearly four years 

 ago under the slogan, " Better Sires — Better Stock," continued to 

 grow and is now a project of considerable size and importance. 

 Reports on its progress are issued quarterly for the information of 

 State officials, county agents, and others cooperating. At the close 

 of the fiscal year 11,533 livestock owners had filed with the depart- 

 ment written pledges to the effect that they have placed their farms 

 on a strictly purebred-sire basis and agreed to use good purebred 

 sires exclusively in their breeding operations for all classes of ani- 

 mals kept. 



States which have made especially noteworthy progress in the 

 work are, in the order listed, Ohio, Virginia, Nebraska, and Ken- 

 tucky. The results continue to show that the use of purebred sires 

 has an important influence in stimulating the ownership of purebred 

 female livestock. In fact, more than a third of all female animals 

 kept by purebred-sire users are purebred. The remainder are prin- 



