30 
FARMERS' BULLETIN 993. 
All bulls should be carefully disinfected to prevent contagious 
abortion. To do this clip the tuft of long hair from the opening of the 
sheath. Then disinfect the penis and sheath with a warm solution of 
compound solution of cresol, U tablespoonfuls to 1 gallon of boiled 
water, or potassium permanganate, one-third teaspoonful to 1 gallon 
of boiled water. Obtain as much information, as possible in regard to 
contagious abortion either from your State agricultural college or 
from the United States Department of Agriculture. 1 ] 
> 
Sec. 5 . — Tuberculin test. All cattle on the farms of members must be tested 
for tuberculosis by means of the tuberculin test. A member shall be deprived of 
the use of the association bulls and of any other benefits and advantages of the 
association until after his cattle have been tested for tuberculosis according to 
regulations as to methods and interval between tests determined by the board 
of directors. 
[Associations that incorporate this section in their by-laws and live 
up to it faithfully are taking a long step forward in the live-stock 
industry. Dairymen are looking more and more for herds with clean 
bills of health from which to replenish their stock. Careful testing 
and the disposal of all reactors is an effective way of cleaning out the 
disease, and while the losses sometimes seem rather large at first, the 
benefits eventually exceed them many times. The advertising that an 
association derives from being free of tuberculosis attracts buyers and 
causes many advantageous sales. The tuberculin tests should be re¬ 
peated every 6 or 12 months. 2 ] 
Sec. 6.— Inspection. The director of each block shall inspect the herds in his 
block at least once every two months, and also make a report for the block to the 
association at the annual meeting. Should any contagious or infectious disease 
appear in the herd of any member, that member shall report the fact at once to 
the block director, and shall forfeit his right to the services of the bulls of the 
association until such time as a competent veterinarian declares his herd to be 
free from disease. 
[The duties of the block director are not numerous, but they are 
nevertheless important. He should know whether the bull has proper 
care and whether the yard and other places are in satisfactory con¬ 
dition. In addition he should keep a careful lookout for contagious 
diseases, should see that the proper arrangements are made for dis¬ 
infecting the bull, and in fact look out for anything that has to do with 
the welfare of the association. Sometimes the directors hesitate to 
demand from the keeper the required attention to the bull. A poorly 
kept, underfed bull may be one of the causes for the breaking up of 
an association. A bull in poor condition is a discouragement to the 
members and gives the association a bad reputation in the com- 
1 Farmers’ Bulletin 790, “ Contagious Abortion of Cattle,” will be sent, free on request 
to the United States Department of Agriculture, Washington, D. C. 
2 A copy of Farmers’ Bulletin 473, entitled “ Tuberculosis,” issued by the United States 
Department of Agriculture, should be provided for each member of the association in 
order that he may be familiar with the disease. 
