FARMING WORLD

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21244, 15 October 1940, Page 10

FARMING WORLD

Disease in Canada Sometime in the not too distant future the Health of Animals Division, Department of Agriculture, Canada, hopes to have all cattle under supervision for the eradication of bovine tuberculosis and all other farm livestock in Canada as far as it is possible free from other diseases. In view of the economic importance of the livestock industry in Canada and its relation to the improvement of public health it is agreed that no more effective public service could be rendered. The work in connection with the eradication of bovine tuberculosis, which is one of the major activities towards the objective of disease free livestock in Canada, was started 43 years ago with the free testing of herds with tuberculin. The demand for the service in 1896 was not great but its introduction gave the owners of livestock an opportunity to become familiar with the test and at the same time afforded an opportunity of determining the extent of infection in herds. Gradually livestock men saw the economic value to them of having cattle free from tuberculosis. They saw it was easier to sell such cattle for export and also on the domestic market. At the same time municipalities and public health authorities were becoming more insistent on milk being sold from cattle known to be free from the disease. Considerable progress in eradicating tuberculosis among cattle has been made. Of the 8,840.000 cattle in Canada about 36 per cent are now under supervision. Of the total 4,762,000 are in the Eastern provinces. of which 52 ner rent are un-

der supervision. Elimination Method There are three plans under which the work of eradication of bovine tuberculosis is carried on in Canada: (1) Accredited herd plan, the object of which is the eradication of tuberculosis in pure-bred herds. These herds are tested free by veterinary inspectors employed by the Dominion Department 6f Agriculture. Compensation is paid for reactors based on two-thirds of the valuation placed upon the animals by the Department’s veterinarians. The latest figures show that there are 8520 fully accredited herds in the Dominion. (2) Supervised herd plan. This is a single herd policy applicable to grade herds irrespective of the number of purebred or grade animals they contain. No compensation is paid for reactors, but the owners receive whatever proceeds there may be from the salvage. There are 52,182 supervised herds throughout the country. (3) Restricted area plan. The object of this plan is the eradication of tuberculosis in definite areas. At least

two-thirds of the cattle owners in l any definite area must sign a peti- | tion for the establishment of such [ an area under this plan. The pay- j ment of compensation is based on « the same limitations and maximum j valuations provided under the Ac- ] credited Herd Plan. About 2,390,000 cattle are under the restricted area plan. Cattle under all policies for tuberculosis eradication number about 3,245,000, an increase from 2,332,000 cattle in 1916. Feeding Of lodine Speaking of iodine deficiency in j calves, Professor Erf, of the Ohio University, United States, says that their first attempt to correct iodine deficiency disease in calves was undertaken in 1913. Since that date the university workers have had the co-operation of some of the leading breeders with large herds of cattle to test the value of iodine feeding as it relates to the health of the cow, the vitality and conformation of the calf, and the transmission of iodine to the milk, fortifying it for infant feeding. The first trial with iodine feeding improved the physical condition of the herd, while subsequent

trials have confirmed this observa- I r tion, and also the iodine was found J to come through into the milk. It was found that one part in 3,000.000 appeared in the milk, and that this was sufficient to promote better health among mothers and children. These experiments were checked throughout by Professor C. F. Monroe to determine the possibility of producing iodised milk for special feeding. Incidently, the experience in the test herds showed greater , milk production and superior calves I as a result of iodine feeding. Tests | made by Dr. George Curtis, of the l Medical Research Bureau of Ohio I University, show that cows have four i times as much iodine in the blood, and their milk has 20 to 30 times as much iodine as that from other cows i fed exactly alike, except for the . iodine in their food. In tests from early years on we found organic iodine superior to inorganic (that is, i potassium iodide or calcium iodide), says Professor Erf. We believe iodine does increase the milk flew of high-producing cows. It does increase the percentage of fat of some cow’s. Cows bordering on hyper- i thyroidism seem to be decidedly improved by feeding iodine. It will build up certain cows, and it has j built up. it seems to us, a great re- 1 sistance of cows to B abortus. As i a result, reproductive organs are ( brought back to more nearly normal. « We have observed this for a number • of years. We are convinced or- j ganic iodine is- essentially a better i form of iodine to feed and it does « not check the appetite of cows if fed in large quantities.

(By “Stockman")