—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, September i. 1973 16 Cottle Identification gulations Strengthened Re The U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently adopted regulations requiring most cattle two years of age or older to be backtagged or ear tagged to identify the animals to their herd of origin before they are shipped across state lines. Officials of USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) said the new cattle identification regulations-which become effective October 23- strengthen cooperative state federal efforts to eradicate communicable livestock diseases such as brucellosis, tuberculosis and cattle scabies. Disease eradication programs rely upon rapid trace-back of infected animals to their herd of origin. The newly adopted regulations broaden current requirements to include backtagging of cattle two years of age or older being shipped across state lines for any pur pose-not just to slaughter-with the following exceptions; - Steers and spayed heifers. - Cattle shipped interstate from a farm, ranch or feedlot directly to (1) a stockyard posted under the Packers and Stockyards Act where they are backtagged upon arrival, or (2) an inspected packing plant, provided the plant maintains adequate identification of these animals by lot or similar means. (If lots are mixed at the packing plant, cattle must be backtagged before herd of origin identity is lost.) - Dairy and breeding cattle two years of age or older must be backtagged or eartagged—or identified by other approved means such as official brands-if they are being shipped across state lines. - Purebred cattle permanently identified according to breed requirements before two years of age do not have to be backtagged No matter *vhere you live, you can count on us to service LP-Gas needs fast and efficiently or eartagged when shipped in terstate for purposes other than for slaughter. The regulation prohibits removal of, or tampering with, identifying backtags or eartags until final destination. Ex ceptions to this rule must be authorized by the Deputy Ad ministrator of APHIS’s Veterinary Services. Individuals responsible for shipping cattle across state lines are also responsible for seeing that the cattle are properly identified. The regulations were published in the Federal Register August 24, 1973. Jimsonweed Control Urged Farmers who have jimsonweed - amount of jimsonweed seed in in their fields should use her- g ra j n sorghum and soybeans bicides at the proper time, clean continues to increase, it may be harvesting equipment when they necessary to amen d grade move from an infected field to a standards that wou ld limit the clean one, and should spot-weed percentage of the weed seed in their fields, says Dr. Fred E the two Westbrook, a U.S. Department of F Agriculture (USDA) agronomist The Extension Service official called for stricter control measures because jimsonweed seed is showing up in increased volume in harvested soybeans and grain sorghum and this has caused marketing problems, particularly in the export trade. Jimsonweed seed can be removed from soybeans by cleaning them at the elevator or processing plant. However, it is difficult to remove mechanically from grain sorghum because the seeds are about the same size. Dr. Westbrook said the weed is spreading, particularly in the midwest, because farmers sometimes fail to clean har vesting equipment when they move it from field to field, and because of today’s cropping practices, which include less rotation of crops and less tillage. Herbicides can be used to control jimsonweed in grain sorghum fields. The best way to control jimsonweed in soybeans is to start with a “clean field,” he said. This calls for the use of herbicides in off years when soybean fields are planted to other crops, like corn or grain sorghum. Small areas of jim sonweed in soybeans should be pulled by hand, he said. Infested areas in grain sorghum or com fields can be spot-sprayed with a herbicide, he said. Dr. Westbrook said if the For Livestock Exports The U.S. Department of would require that all cattle for scheduled for publication in the Agriculture (USDA) has export—except those intended Federal Register August 15,1973- proposed additional animal for slaughter—be treated for -should be sent to the Deputy health requirements before cattle grubs with an approved Administrator, Veterinary livestock could be certified for pesticide at least 10 and not more Services, APHIS, USDA, Federal export. than 30 days prior to export. Center Building, Hyattsville, Specifically, USDA’s Animal The proposal was prompted by Md., before Oct. 15, 1973. All and Plant Health Inspection reports made to APHIS-the written submissions will be Service (APHIS) proposal would agency responsible for inspection available for public inspection at require that swine: and certification of the health of the above address during regular -Be negative to a serum animals exported from the business hours, Monday through neutralization test for tran- United States-that U.S. swine Friday smissible gastroenteritis (TGE) shipped to Ecuador and Colombia within 30 days prior to export; were reported to have caused and extensive outbreaks of TGE in - Be from a herd free of TGE for the preceding 12 months and to which no additions have been made within 30 days prior to export. The APHIS proposal further Takes the guesswork V out ot worming ?■ Pull the triggei 3. The job is done Propose Added Health Requirements E m injectable solution . 18.2% - AVAILABLE FROM YOUR FAVORITE ANIMAL HEALTH SUPPLIER native swine and that cattle shipped to Japan and Taiwan were infested with grubs. APHIS officials said that adoption of the proposed requirements would further ensure that only healthy animals would be exported. They are seeking comments, however, to determine whether or not the additional health requirements might limit the source of swine for potential export or sub stantially increase the cost for cattle exported. Comments on the proposal- THIS PRODUCT AND OTHI PnoctuctA Pt AVAILABLE IN THE NORTHEAST FROM We have it in stock, now! TRAMISOC levamisole phosphate INJECTABLE SOLUTION the first injectable dewormer for cattle New TRAMISOL is this easy to use: H; Neighbors 1 “Darnit, Bobby, mom said only one scoop for you!” levamisole phosphate E