BOVINE TUBERCULOSIS. 155 



Disposition of tuberculous cattle. — Abundant experiments 

 have demonstrated that sound calves can be raised under favor- 

 able conditions from tuberculous cows. It is sometimes practical 

 to free a herd from tuberculosis by breeding out the disease, in- 

 stead of by immediately killing all diseased animals. It may be 

 wise in most cases to slaughter tuberculous bulls and other tuber- 

 culous members of the herd which the owner does not think it 

 advisable to keep in partial quarantine at a somewhat increased 

 expenditure of time and money. It is generally recognized that 

 tuberculous animals should be slaughtered under inspection and 

 certain carcasses passed as fit for food purposes. It may be ad- 

 visable to feed such animals for a few months before slaughter. 



The tuberculous cows retained for breeding must be kept in 

 a separate stable or in a tightly partitioned off portion of the 

 common stable. They must not be watered at the same tank nor 

 fed from common mangers or vessels. The danger in allowing 

 tuberculous and non-tuberculous cattle to associate in the open 

 air is slight, probably. The tuberculous cows may be used for 

 breeding purposes, and one or more crops of calves secured before 

 the cows are finally disposed of. The calves must be raised upon 

 the milk of healthy cows, or boiled milk from tuberculous cows. 

 From 80 to 90 per cent of such calves may be raised free from 

 tuberculosis. 



Digitized by Microsoft® 



