494 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



THE SUPPRESSION OF TUBERCULOSIS 



In my opinion there was no act of the 38th General Assembly of 

 more importance to the people of our great Commonwealth than the law 

 controlling and suppressing diseases of domestic animals. In the cattle 

 industry. Iowa admittedly, taking all things into consideration, sur- 

 passes all other states because of the number of pure bred herds within 

 her borders. Besides this, she stands almost alone in the production 

 of hogs. 



This measure is sure to have a great influence on the production of 

 both cattle and hogs in the future, as it will be reasonably easy to 

 eradicate tuberculosis in our swine when our bovine kind are free of 

 this dread disease. 



Neighboring states have enacted similar laws and profited by their 

 foresight. I have always felt that, since the public would be benefited, 

 it was right and reasonable that they should, in a measure, share any 

 loss that would come to the owner of the herd. This is especially true 

 as it applies to breeding and dairy cattle, as it is reasonable to assume 

 that the law as it was drafted contemplated caring for this class of cattle 

 and bringing them within its scope, . and it is perfectly right that it 

 should. 



I have never thought that the dairyman or breeder should be com- 

 pensated in full for reactors as that would perhaps encourage carelessness 

 and in some instances trickery and dishonest methods. 



While the state and federal indemnity is a great inducement to the 

 cattle man to clean up, when you take the present value of cattle into 

 consideration, it is not as large as it should be. This is especially true 

 as it applies to the better class of registered or pure bred cattle. 



After an experience of over 35 years in breeding cattle, I can draw but 

 one conclusion; that a great share of our troubles with this disease 

 would be eliminated by the use of clean, well lighted and well ventilated 

 barns. I do not wish to be understood as saying that the disease can be 

 eliminated under conditions of this kind without the use of the tuberculin 

 test and doing away with the reactors. I do feel sure, however, that the 

 percentage of loss on the first federal and state test and tests there- 

 after will be much less under such conditions. It is surprising to me, 

 that in this day and age, there are still many breeders who do not 

 recognize the value of light and ventilation. The old filthy plank 

 floor, poorly lighted, ill-ventilated barn, is the harbinger of disease, 

 especially tuberculosis. There is nothing cheaper and better than sun- 

 light. It is my opinion that the Almighty would not have supplied it in 

 such generous quantities, had He known that the stockman and farmer 

 had so small an appreciation of its value. 



It is my judgment that it will be a difficult matter within a few years 

 for the owner of a herd of pure bred, registered cattle to do any con- 

 siderable amount of business, unless the herd is under federal super- 

 vision or in the accredited list. I feel sure that cow's milk has saved 

 a thousand children, where one has been made to suffer by its use. The 

 bare possibility of one child in a thousand becoming affected by its use, 

 is a good and sufficient reason why our dairy herds should be cleaned up. 



