CATTLE TICK ERADICATION 245 



Before dealing with the remedies, however, the dangers of the 

 tick evil itself cannot be too strongly impressed. About four 

 years ago the Bureau of Animal Industry (U.S.A.) issued a 

 circular to stockowners with a view to securing direct evidence 

 regarding the benefits derived from the tick eradication work 

 carried on within the quarantine area. This circular took the 

 form of a number of questions which are given herewith with 

 some of the summarised answers. They afford most impressive 

 evidence, not only of enormous losses prevented, but also of im- 

 mense gains obtained by the dipping of animals for ridding them 

 of ticks. 



In reply to the question, "What were the approximate annual 

 losses of cattle from tick fever in your county, from 1900 to 1909 

 inclusive?" the summarised answer was: "15.3 per cent.," and 

 this was followed by the query : ' ' What has been the annual loss 

 of cattle from tick fever since tick eradication start edf" The 

 answer— 1.3 per cent. — compared with the 15.3 per cent, in 

 reply to the first question, shows that tick eradication work re- 

 sulted in the losses being reduced almost to vanishing point. The 

 next two questions brought forth the information that whereas 

 from 1900 to 1909 inclusive the average value of three-year-old 

 steers was 16.15 dollars (67s. 3d.), in 1912, i.e., between two and 

 three years after the commencement of tick eradication work, it 

 amounted to 25.28 dollars (105s. 4d.). In comparing these two 

 amounts, however, allowance has to be made for the general 

 advance in the price of cattle, but even when this is done, the 

 price shows an appreciation of 40 per cent., which can be pro- 

 perly credited to the absence of the tick. 



Two more questions and their replies may be quoted: — "Is: 

 there any difference in the average weight of the cattle now and 

 before tick eradication was started? How much?" Answer: 

 ' ' Yes. Average increase 22 per cent. Average weight increase, 

 116 lbs." Taking the value of the animals at Ifd. per lb. (the | 

 average for three-year-old steers in U.S.A.), the average gain" 

 thus works out at about 16s. 8d. per head. Finally, the reply 

 to the question : " Is there any improvement in the grades of 

 cattle in your country since the work of tick eradication was 

 started?" was practically a unanimous affirmative. These re- 

 ports indicate very striking results, and the comment of a cor- 

 respondent of the U.S. Department of Agriculture is worth quot- 

 ing: "With the prospect of tick eradication, the raising of cattle 

 is springing into life. ' In years gone by, with the tick depopu- 



