FIFTIETH ANNUAL CONVENTION 16? 



In addition to the losses which can be rather accurate- 

 ly estimated from available records, there is an enormous 

 loss due to this disease which can not be specifically deter- 

 mined. Many herds of cattle from which the owners derive 

 a considerable revenue through the sale of the products 

 are so badly affected that when they are submitted to an 

 official tuberculin test from 50 to 90 per cent of the animals 

 react to the test. The salvage obtained from these animals 

 does not compensate for the loss, because, except in rare 

 instances, cattle known to be diseased can be sold only for 

 immediate slaughter. There is of course a wide difference 

 between the beef price of an animal and its value as a pro- 

 ducing or breeding animal. In most States part of this dif- 

 ference is met by indemnities paid the owner through the 

 co-operation of the State and Federal Governments under 

 the accredited herd plan. 



However, the greatest loss in these cases is the loss of 

 the milk and milk products which have been previously a 

 source of income to the owners. The writers know of herds 

 bringing a net profit of from $600 to $700 or more per 

 month which were necessariily destroyed by reason of an 

 unusually heavy infection. Such losses as these can not 

 be accurately estimated for the country at large. 



The breeder of purebred cattle is in an especially un- 

 enviable situation when a large percentage of reactors is 

 found as a result of the test. Among a number of instances 

 known to the bureau is that of a breeder who owned a herd 

 of about 70, and as the result of the test lost 62 head. A 

 majority of these reacting cattle were valued extremely 

 high, but as he had no facilities for maintaining all of them 

 under quarantine, it was necessary that 45 head be sent to 

 a slaughtering establishment. This man estimated his loss 

 at from $20,000 to $30,000. 



Many instances of serious losses due to tuberculosis oc- 

 cur also in swine. A report was recently received showing 

 that of 68 hogs shipped from a certain point in Illinois all 

 were affected with the disease, and 33 of them were entire- 

 ly condemned as unfit for food. Cases of this kind are not 

 unusual. 



