Heredity in Bovine Tuberculosis. 



5i 



At birth the calves are immediately taken from the mother and 

 no possible communication thenceforth exists between them except 

 that the calf is given by bottle one feeding of the first milk secre- 

 tion of the mother, removed by stripping and fed unsterilized. 

 All subsequent feedings are made from a modified milk formula, 

 based on pasteurized milk collected indiscriminately from sound 

 and tuberculous animals. The feedings are made directly after 

 pasteurization and before the milk has been cooled ; pasteurization 

 is begun immediately after the milk has been collected and before 

 it has lost its natural heat. 



Over 200 calves have been born of the tuberculous herd, not 

 one has become tuberculous although all have been tested three 

 times by massive doses of tuberculin. Some evidence exists 

 tending to indicate that these animals are rather more resistant 

 to tuberculosis than animals born of non-tuberculous parents. 



No falling off in type, in milk production or fertility is present 

 in these calves, no increased death exists among them as com- 

 pared with the offspring of healthy cattle. We may also add that 

 no falling off in value takes place and among calves of this ancestry 

 are several of the most valuable cows and bulls in the world. 

 These facts remain constant even where at least three generations 

 of known tuberculous parentage exists. 



As to the condition of the tuberculous animals themselves. 

 None showing gross evidence of the disease are kept but in so far 

 as the other reactors are concerned, practically all the world 

 records as to fertility, milk and cream production are held by 

 animals either themselves thus infected or who are the offspring 

 of tuberculous ancestry. 



The world's record of milk production was accomplished by 

 a 7-year-old cow of this tuberculous group (Woodcrest Meta 

 Vernon), herself also the descendant of three known tubercular 

 generations. This cow gave in 365 consecutive days a total of 

 28,436 pounds of milk and during her five years of fecundity has 

 given birth to five high-grade and perfect calves. A 23-month 

 heifer of this group, sired and dammed by tuberculous animals, has 

 beaten the world's record of milk production for this age by 4,000 

 pounds. 



The object of the experiment is to produce a herd of Holstein 



