No. 7. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. . M.1 



drain on the sheep industry in some localities that sheep keeping 

 has been discontinued, even in the face of rising market for mutton 

 and wool. 



I have known several promising horse breeding ventures, started 

 with good judgment in the selection of foundation stock, and at 

 great cost to be ruined by the jjrevalence of abortion, navel-ill, 

 osteoporosis and contagious pneumonia of foals. 



An enormous number of herds of purebred cattle have been 

 destroyed or scattered by infectious diseases, particularly by tuber- 

 culosis, abortion, calf cholera and contagious garget. I am familiar 

 with the history in detail of a large number of herds in the Eastern 

 states that were carefully organized, and that were of great promise 

 until they were extinguished, or until the enthusiasm of their 

 owners was extinguished by reason of the excessive prevalence of 

 some infectious disease. 



It is not alone the rich owner of high bred animals who is injured 

 and discouraged by these maladies. Nothing can be more dis- 

 heartening, or in a business way, more injurious to a farmer who 

 has a large share of his means invested in animals than to witness 

 the insiduous effects of disease, and the gradual depletion of his 

 c^apital. Such men usually depend for their livelihood upon their 

 flocks and herds. If these are impaired, they are unable to meet 

 rental or interest charges, and innumerable farmers have in this 

 way been carried into bankruptcy. 



The average farmer is not, and is not likely to become, a breeder 

 of pure-bred animals. Better breeding to the average stock-keeper, 

 means the elimination of the unfit and the purchase and use of 

 occasional improved individuals, especially males, from the breeders 

 of pedigree animals. The better the quality of such animals, the 

 more moderate the price, and the less the danger attendant upon 

 the introduction of such animals into the herd, the more the aver- 

 age stockkeeper will be encouraged to use them, and the more he 

 will grade up his stock. If pure-bred animals of good stock are 

 difficult to acquire, on account of their scarcity and high price, and if 

 their purchase involves material risk of introducing a new disease 

 the use of such animals is bound to be restricted, and the betterment 

 of the average quality of livestock of the country will be impeded. 



One must admit that pure-bred animals of good quality are neither 

 as extensively produced nor as widely disseminated in this country 

 as is desirable. This is due partly to the lack of appreciation of 

 advantages from better blood, partly to prejudice, partly to fear 

 of disease and partly to the fact that fhere is such a limited number 

 of successful breeders of pure-bred animals, and so many instances 

 of men who have tried to breed pure-bred animals and failed, that 

 there is a lack of sufficient number of inspiring examples. As I 

 have shown a large proportion of these causes of failure trace back 

 to disaster and discouragement from disease, 



A hundred and fifty years ago it became evident to Bourgelat 

 that there was need of careful study and teaching concerning the 

 diseases of animals. The French veterinary schools were estab- 

 lished upon his initiative, and this example was soon followed by 

 all the progressive countries of Europe. It was recognized that 

 before there can be an improved agriculture there must be an eo- 



