468 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



HOG CHOLERA CONTROL. 



By J. S. Koen, U. S. Inspector-in-Charge. 



Five years ago the losses from hog cholera were 2,709,876 hogs in a sin- 

 gle year. During 1917 the losses were 188,909 hogs, and will be still less 

 during 1918. This shows the progress of the fight waged during this time 

 for the control of this dread disease. 



These results show conclusively that hog cholera can be and is being 

 controlled by the adoption of the control measures evolved by the Dallas 

 County experiment during the years 1913-1916. In July, 1913, the Bureau 

 of Animal Industry, U. S. Department of Agriculture, in co-operation with 

 the state authorities, inaugurated the first experimental demonstration 

 in Dallas County to determine the best method for the control and ulti- 

 mate eradication of hog cholera by a judicious use of the serum pre- 

 ventive treatment in conjunction with practical quarantine and sanitary 

 measures. 



This three-year demonstration proved that the fundamental principles- 

 which must be applied if cholera is to be controlled are: 



I. Vaccination. ^ 



II. Quarantine. 



III. Sanitation 



I. Vaccination — By vaccination is meant the use of the preventive 

 serum and virus treatment. There is no other treatment known that will 

 either prevent or successfully combat hog cholera. The results of vaccin- 

 ation depend upon the quality of the serum and rirus used, method of 

 administration and the condition of the animals to which the treatment 

 is administered. 



The quality of the serum is established by the strict Federal inspection 

 maintained at all plants doing an interstate business. The intelligent 

 administration of the treatment necessitates a thorough understanding of 

 both the disease and treatment. ^ 



Since only competent veterinarians possess these qualifications the most 

 favorable results follow the use of serum and virus in their hands. 



Their experience and scientific knowledge is very necessary to deter- 

 mine the condition of the hogs at time of vaccination. 



Many unfavorable results have followed the use of serum where the 

 hogs were too sick, the pigs too young, the dosage of serum and virus too 

 small, etc. These irregularities are being rapidly overcome, yet in spite 

 of them there has been a saving of 85 per cent of all hogs in infected 

 herds given the serum treatment as compared with a loss of more than 

 85 per cent of all hogs in infected herds not so treated. When infected 

 hogs are treated early there has been a loss of less than 5 per cent. 



To compare the serum treatment with any other "so-called" treatment 

 as a preventive in well herds would be ridiculous. There is no other prod- 

 uct advocated as a preventive that its producer dare use against virulent 

 virus. 



By a continued use of the serum treatment cholera can be ultimately 

 eradicated, at which times its use will be unnecessary. 



