152 BETTER DAIRY FARMING 



Their herds should, in general, be left until later when the area can 

 be cleaned up as a unit and when clean cattle are more available. 



What we have said above in no way denies the principle that 

 everyone must be behind the clean herd program. The program 

 must be carried out as rapidly as public money is available and 

 owners can stand their share of the losses. Because of the tendency 

 of the disease to spread, and the losses in production incurred 

 with diseased animals, it certainly is true that the men who have 

 the will to do it should test their herds at once and get on a clean 

 basis. 



236. How to proceed. — There are many other questions that 

 will arise in the mind of one desiring to clean up his herd. He will 

 want to know just how he should go about it, how soon the work 

 can be begun and how much it will cost. The answers to these 

 questions will differ according to the state and other conditions. 

 The owner desirous of cleaning up his herd, but in doubt how to 

 proceed, should consult his Farm Bureau Agent or State College 

 of Agriculture for information. 



We can offer a few suggestions which may tend to keep the 

 disease from spreading in a herd while the owner is waiting for the 

 actual clean-up. In the first place, the chance of further infection 

 from without should be shut off by adding no animals to the herd, 

 unless they are tuberculin tested, and by avoiding the use of 

 skim milk from a creamery for feeding calves unless it is properly 

 pasteurized. The chances of the further spread of the disease 

 within the herd may be lessened by a separate manger for each 

 animal and individual drinking cups, and by seeing that every 

 cow has her own regular stall and avoiding the shifting of animals 

 around. These same precautions, coupled with the elimination of 

 any animals showing physical symptoms, are worth while for 

 every owner to follow even if he is not planning to have his herd 

 tested in the immediate future. But no one can hope to get rid of 

 tuberculosis except by the test method, and every dairyman 

 should look forward to having his herd cleaned up by the accredited 

 herd plan. It will pay him in the long run, even if the first cost 

 be high. The quicker it is done the smaller will be the losses. 



