132 ANNUAL. REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



which is a hu'fre decrease from the preceding year. Many cattle 

 owners in tick-eradication localities have shown a disposition to ship 

 for slau<i;hter as many unprofitable cattle as possible in preference to 

 dipping them. This was done with a view of procuring, after the 

 ticks are eradicated, better-bred animals likely to be.more profitable 

 for breeding purposes. " Dipped ticky cattle " to the number of 2,G24 

 were shipped to points where inspection is provided and dipping 

 facilities maintained for further treatment for movement as non- 

 infectious. At public stockyards 98,738 cattle were dipped and cer- 

 tified for movement as noninfected. For these shii)ments 3,458 cer- 

 tificates were issued. At points other than public stockyards 56,925 

 cattle were inspected or dipped and certified for interstate movement 

 as noninfected, as provided for in the regulations. To cover the 

 shipments of these cattle 1,112 certificates were issued. 



TUBERCULOSIS ERADICATION DIVISION. 



The work of the Tuberculosis Eradication Division, in charge of 

 Dr. J. A. Kiernan, chief, conducted in cooperation with State live- 

 stock sanitary officials and livestock owners, has sliown a pro- 

 nounced growth during the year. Active cooperation was ex- 

 tended to 2 additional States and the Territory of Hawaii, 

 making a total of 45 States and 1 Territory actively participating in 

 the campaign for the control and eventual eradication of tubercu- 

 losis from livestock. For carrying on the field work the bureau 

 has offices in 38 cities in as many States. An average of 150 veteri- 

 nary inspectors were detailed to these offices during the year, and 

 they were supplemented by an average of 110 State employees and a 

 few veterinarians employed by counties and cities. The activities 

 were carried on under four main projects: (1) Eradication of tuber- 

 culosis from purebred herds, (2) eradication of tuberculosis from 

 circumscribed areas, (3) eradication of tuberculosis from swine, an3 

 (4) testing cattle for interstate movement. 



ACCREDITED TUBERCULOSIS-FREE HERDS. 



In the eradication of tuberculosis from purebred herds and the 

 maintenance of a list of herds of purebred cattle officially accredited 

 as being free from tuberculosis, 695,364 cattle were tested, of which 

 28,616, or slightly more than 4 per cent, reacted and were removed 

 from the herds. The number of cattle tested was more than double 

 the number for the preceding year. There have been established as 

 fully accredited 3,370 herds containing 82,986 cattle, and 16,599 herds 

 containing 257,577 cattle have been once tested without reactors. 

 This is an increase of 2,588 accredited herds and 63,965 cattle over 

 the report compiled to April 1, 1919. 



The great success of this feature of the campaign in many States 

 has been due to several causes, chief among which were the increased 

 knowledge concerning the movement on the part of the livestock 

 owners and the ability of many of the States to pay indemnity for 

 diseased cattle. In order that future demands for services under 

 this plan may be met, plans have been put into operation which were 

 approved by the United States Livestock Sanitary Association and 

 representatives of the purebred cattle breeders' associations and 



