4 Fan isti: n.uHetiti W57. . 



REASONS FOR ERADICATING THE CATTLE TICK. 



Various kinds or species of ticks occur on cattle in the Southern 

 States, but the one that chiefly concerns us here is that commonly 

 called the "cattle" or "Texas-fever" tick {Margaropus annul<itus). 

 It is the one most f req.uen±ly found on cattle in the South and is 

 much more abundant than any of the other species. When th6 losses 

 caused by this parasite are once thoroughly understood by farmers 

 and stockmen arguments in favor of tick eradication will not be 

 needed. Some of the losses are not directly noticeable and conse- 

 quently make little impression, while others properly chargeable to 

 the tick are frequently attributed to other causes. 



It is hardl}' necessary to emphasize that the tick is something more 

 than a simple parasite drawing blood from its " host'," the name com- 

 monly given the animal on which a parasite lives. The tick is also 

 the carrier of a dangerous microorganism, or germ, which it trans- 

 mits to the blood of cattle, thus causing a disease known by many 

 names, among which are Texas fever, tick fever, splenetic fever, and 

 murrain.^ "Without the tick there can be no tick fever, and by stop- 

 ping the spread of the tick beyond its natural bounds the fever has 

 been prevented from waging destruction among northern cattle, 

 which are especially susceptible to the disease. In order to restrict 

 the distribution of the tick the National and State Governments 

 maintain quarantine areas, marking the boundaries between the 

 States or portions of States harboring the pest and those that do not 

 (see figure 1). Cattle may be moved out :f the quarantined areas 

 only in accordance with the regulations or the Secretary of Agricul- 

 ture to prevent the spread of splenetic fever of cattle. 



The Bureau of Animal Industry has received hundreds of letters 

 from farmers and other interested persons, all residents of the south- 

 ern territory which has been freed from ticks, testifying to the bene- 

 fits derived from the destruction of the pest. The consensus of 

 opinion in these letters indicates that on the average cattle are en- 

 hanced in value about $10 a head, they weigh one-fifth more, they 

 grade one- fourth better, and they are safe from tick fever and from 

 the shrinkage which it causes. It is also stated that the cattle indus- 

 try in the South is increasing, that there is an increase in improved 

 blood, that the milk yield of cows is increased about one-fourth, and 

 that there is an increase of forage crops and silos. 



The South needs more and better live stock and a larger and better 

 dairy industry, and these objects are being promoted greatly by the 

 destruction of the tick. More than that, the increased i)roiluction of 

 live stock, by reason of its important influence in maintaining and 



^ For Information on this disonse and how it is trnnsmittod hy tlrl^s, soo Fnrmors' lUiI- 

 letln 569, " Texas or Ticlt Fever." 



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