270 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



be tested with tuberculin by a person approved by the Chief 

 of the Cattle Bureau, either prior to shipment or after arrival 

 at destination, unless permission to omit the test is given by 

 the Chief of the Bureau, for some good reason. 



This petition was referred to the Chief of the Cattle Bureau 

 April 21, with the request by the Governor and Council that 

 he give the petitioners a hearing. A hearing was accordingly 

 granted the members of the Massachusetts Cattle Owners' 

 Association in the room of the State Board of Agriculture, 

 No. 136 State House, on May 4, 1905. After considering 

 arguments for and against changing the rules and regula- 

 tions of the Cattle Bureau of the State Board of Asfriculture 

 contained in Cattle Bureau Order, No. 11, the Chief of the 

 Cattle Bureau reported to the Governor and Council that it 

 seemed to him that it would be unwise to make any change 

 in the present rules and regulations of the Cattle Bureau re- 

 lating to the introduction of neat cattle from other States into 

 the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. He also gave it as his 

 opinion that the request of the petitioners for revoking the 

 portion of Cattle Bureau Order, No. 11, requiring a tuberculin 

 test should not be granted. 



The petitioners appealed from the decision of the Chief of 

 the Cattle Bureau to the Governor and Council, but as yet 

 no further action has been taken in the matter. 



If the Commonwealth is to continue the policy of paying 

 owners of tuberculous animals for cattle that are killed by 

 the State authority, it seems only proper to require that cattle 

 brouo;ht in from surroundino- States should be free from 

 tul>erculosis, and the best method of determining accurately 

 whether they are free from this disease or not is by means 

 of the tuberculin test ; therefore, it is to be hoped that no 

 change will l)e made in the rules. 



The third portion of this work, or '< voluntary request 

 work," has been very limited during the past year, as shown 

 in the appended list : — 



Number of herds tested, ........ 9 



Number of animals tested, ........ 180 



Number condi^mrKMl and rendei'cd, ..... 50 



NumlK'r condemned and passed for beef, no award, . . 40 



Number that did not react, ....... 90 



180 



