10—Lancaster Farming. Saturday. July 13. 197
Two weeks ago on these pages,
there appeared a letter from a dairy
farmer who'd had his herd ravaged
by brucellosis. In his letter, the
dairyman detailed his purchase of ten
cows from a dealer he'd been doing
business with over a period of 18
months. The cows did not have health
charts.
After putting the new cows into his
herd, the farmer’s original cows
aborted. Eventually, brucellosis was
found to be the cause of the abor
tions. In his understandable bit
terness, the farmer blamed himself
for taking cows without health charts,
he blamed the dealer for selling him
tainted animals, and he blamed the
Penn State extension staff for not
recommending brucellosis vac
cinations.
We talked with Associate Lancaster
County Agent N. Alan Bair about the
brucellosis incident. “First of all,"
Bair said, “that diaryman made a
mistake in nof isolating those new
animals. Every new cow should be
isolated until a negative blood test
comes back from the lab.”
“Even cows with health charts
should be isolated, because you never
can tell what happened to them
between the dealer and the farm.
They could have ridden part of the
way with diseased cows. It’s a
mistake to trust health charts
completely, although no dairyman
should let a cow off the truck unless
his dealer first provides a health
chart. Even if he buys from his neigh
bor he should ask for a health chart."
Much more important than the
health chart, though, Bair said, is
isolation. “A separate barn is the best
way to isolate, but you can separate
an animal from the rest of the herd
just by keeping her in a separate stall
until the blood work is done. It should
be the stall farthest from the door,
too, so the herd doesn’t pass by her
on the way in and out."
“And remember, brucellosis, isn’t
the only reason to isolate. There are
other problems, like TB and IBR, that
new cows can introduce into a herd.
Isolation is the best way to guard
against any of these. It’s cheap in
surance'”
There's some feeling among
dairymen that vaccination against
brucellosis is also “good insurance”,
and we asked Bair about this.
‘‘Vaccination is a controversial
subject We’re recommending amend
to vaccination. Right now, we’re on
the verge of wiping brucellosis out,
and we won’t be able to wipe it out
unless we end vaccination.
“The problem is that once an
animal is vaccinated, it's possible to
get a positive reading with a
brucellosis blood test even if the cow
doesn’t have the disease. If it weren’t
for this fact, we’d be able to slaughter
every positive reactor as a matter of
course, trace the disease back to the
source and wipe it out at the source.
That’s impossible now, because we
get too many positive reactions from
cows that aren’t sick ’’
But wouldn’t a ban on vaccinations
mean opening the doors to a
brucellosis epidemic 7 Bair, and his
Penn State colleagues, think not.
“Last year, there were only 16 herds
in the entire state with brucellosis.
The cause of every one of those
outbreaks was traced back to out of
Some Thoughts
on Brucellosis
state herds. And 14 of those cases
were traced back to a single dealer."
Veterinarians aren’t unanimous by
any means in their opinions on
vaccinations. At least one state,
Michigan, requires brucellosis vac
cinations on all cows entering the
state. On the other hand, some
foreign countries won't accept cows
that have been vaccinated for the
very same reason that Penn State
recommends an end to vaccination.
Dr. Samuel B. Guss, extension
veterinarian at Penn State, is
adamant in his feelings on the sub
ject. In an editorial in a recent issue of
“Veterinary News” Guss said:
“States which have'worked hard
and long to eradicate bovine
brucellosis now find themselves in a
most awkward position upon suc
cessful achievement of the goal they
pursued."
“At national veterinary and
livestock meetings, proposals to
restore adult vaccination and to
extend the age limits for vaccination
come very close to being adopted.
Many veterinarians and livestock
men from some states which have not
yet become serious about eradicating
brucellosis have concluded that
vaccinating heifers is enough."
“There is good solid evidence that
brucellosis is stamped out in the
northeastern dairy states. For the
past five years these states should
have radically .changed their
programs emphasizing frequent milk
ring testing and market cattle testing
with the prohibition of-heifer vac
cination. But state veterinarians are
pressured by breed associations and
their own profession to pursue in
dividual herd testing, area testing
and heifer vaccination to protect
herds and to keep cattle eligible for
sale in other states."
“To make matters worse, when
state regulatory officials try to take a
stand in regional or national
meetings, federal veterinarians
confuse the issues with value
statements designed to satisfy
nobody and support nobody. In the
brucellosis-free northeastern .states
the statement that whether or not to
vaccinate heifer calves is something
to be decided between the herd
owner and his veterinarian is pure
hogwash. The USDA is thereby telling
brucellosis-free states to sit back and
wait until something motivates
remaining states _to_ eradicate-the
disease.
“The time is ripe for brucellosis
free states to change direction in the
brucellosis campaign: cattle from
states not free of the disease should
move into free states only by special
permit. They and the herds into which
they move should be held in
provisional quarantine until an of
ficial retest of the imported animals
made at least 30 days after their
arrival confirms them to be a
natative.”
‘The time is ripe for ACTION in the
brucellosis-free states - not a
HOLDING ACTION. I have been told
that the above is ‘unrealistic’ - it will
hurt the free movement of cattle. It is
not unrealistic and something must
be done to hurt the free movement of
infected, exposed, adult-vaccinated
and other dangerous cattle into
brucellosis-free states."
**--
THE DIFFERENCE
Lenon for July 14, 1974
Background Scripture:
Ephesians 4:17 through 6:24.
Devotional Reading:
Ephesians 6:10-20.
religion is
“Your
showing!”
Those words were not
intended to be a compliment,
but an expression of
derision. They were spoken
to a Mend of mine who had
used the term ‘Christian
Love’ in a discussion of a
community social problem.
“Good,” retorted my friend,
“I'm glad my religion is
showing; it’s supposed to!”
Your old nature
That is what the writer of
Ephesians is saying again
and again in the latter part of
his epistle. There is a dif
ference in being a Christian,
and our lives should give
evidence of that difference.
No one can be a follower of
Jesus Christ without having
some profound changes take
place in his life. In fact, those
differences in how we live
are the evidence that our
discipleship is real. The
differences are supposed to
show.
For one thingthere will be
a difference in what controls
our lives. Some people like
the Gentiles of whom
Ephesians is writing, are
driven by their emotions and
appetites. They do not
discipline themselves, doing
whatever they feel like
doing, regardless of the
consequences. They gorge
themselves with food,
alcohol, power, ‘ speed,
passion and fun. Someone
has characterized this kind
of person as “stomach alive,
soul extinct”.
One cannot be a Christian,
says Ephesians, and be
controlled by either emotion
or appetite. That was your
old “manner'of life”, but
now you are expected to live
a new life which is controlled
by nothing but your com
mitment to God. If we hold
firmly to that commitment,
says Ephesians, we will be
“renewed in the spirit 0f...
(our) minds” and our lives
will give evidence of a dif
ferent, “new nature”.
Some changes
For most of-us,- this means -
making some changes in our
lives. If we are accustomed
to “falsehood”, we will begin
to speak truthfully. If we are
subject to control by anger,
we will work to keep that
anger in check and make
sure that we never end a day
with that anger in control.
We will avoid situations
where we know that the
power of temptation will be
great. Instead of dishonesty
and dieating, we will devote
ourselves to honest labor. We
will stop talking in a manner
that is harmful to others and
we will leave no corner of our
lives for bitterness, wrath,
and anger.
But the new life in Christ is
more than a matter of what
we will not do: “be kind to
one another, tenderhearted,
forgiving one another, as
God in Christ forgave you”
(4:32). The key to the new
life is the example of Jesus
Christ. The “true
-y*>% *
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NOW IS
THE TIME.
Max Smith
County Agr. Agent
Telephone 394-6851
To Prepare For
August Seeding
Alfalfa growers who are
planning to make a summer
seeding should be getting
their ground in condition. A
complete soil test will reveal
the lime and fertilizer needs;
these materials should be
worked into the soil prior to
seeding. Lime should be
given time to reduce soil
acidity rather than to expect
over-night results. A firm
seedbed free of weeds is also
very essential to a quick
growth. The band seeding
method is strongly recom
mended to get strong plants
before cold weather arrives.
When seeded without a nurse
crop the field should be
sprayed for weeds either
before seeding the alfalfa or
after the growth is 1 to 2
inches high. Alfalfa is an
excellent forage crop in this
part of the country and good
stands well managed should
give profitable returns.
To Control Leafhoppers
The third cutting of alfalfa
is now growing on many
local farms; due to past
experience, we can expect
damage from the potato
leafhopper unless spray
applications are made. The
yellowing and stunting of the
plants , are oftgn due to.
leafhoppers. When the new
growth is 3 to 5 inches high
an - application of
Methoxychlor should protect
the plants from this insect.
To wait until damage is
evident is not the way to get
maximum third cuttings. An
effort to prevent damage to
the plants as the new growth
begins should result in larger
yields. Malathion may also
be used when aphids are
feeding on the small alfalfa
plants.
$
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Farm
Calendar
Wednesday, July 17
9:30 * 11:30 a.m. Chester Co.
Homemakers Workshop,
Freezing and Canning
—Fruits- and Vegetables,
Chester Co. Saving ana
Loan, Market and High
St., West Chester.
from HISTORY’S SCRAPBOOK
DATES AND EVENTS FROM YESTERYEARS
Julios Cum wu born on July 12,100 B.C.
The Draft Riots of 1063 broke out in New York City on
July 13,1863, killing 1,000 people.
The citizens of Paris stormed the Bastille Prison on
July 14,1789.
Rembrandt, famous Dutch painter, was born on July 15,
1606.
Czar Nicholas 11, his wife and children, were murdered
by the Bolsheviks on July 16,1918. ,
General Franco began the Spanish Civil War on July 17,
1936.
The Presidential Succes«ion Act was signed on Julv 18,
1947.
righteousness and holiness’’
that will constitute the dif- -
ference in our Christian Every man is two men.
disciplesbip are to be found one is awake in the darkness,
in OUT constant and per- the Other is. asleep in the
sistent emulation of “the 1 light. , ; j, * ■
likeness of God” we find
revealed in Jesus, Christ.
* ■—*m { r» Ui “ *»!•»
• •
To Order Pah
Grain Needs
Its not too early to be
contacting your local seed
dealer to place the order for
winter barley and wheat
seeding. These crops are in
strong demand and certified
seed should be used when
possible. We are aware of
some growers using local
seed without knowing ger
mination percentage, weed
seed content, or disease
possibilities. Certified seed
of the desired variety is still
the best place to put your'
money and efforts. With the
higher price of feed grains in
recent years, it' is good
management to attempt to
produce the maximum
amount of these grains and
reduce the amount to be
purchased. Don’t delay seed
ordering until you have to
accept what is left.
To Accept Community
Responsibility
We continue to urge that
farmers, take .active part in
their local community as far
as zoning and planning
boards are concerned: We
realize that most farmers
are very busy and already
have more extra activities
than needed; however,
as more non - farm
families establish in the
rural areas, there will; be
more decisions to be made,
off thefarm. It will be heifer
if farmers help to make
these decisions than have to
abide by decisions made by
others that directly concern
the farm. Farmerinput into
community decisions might ,
be more acceptable to the
agricultural community
.than .if the decisions and
regulations are made by
non’farm folks. Be willing to
participate in community
planning so that agricultural
will 'not be severely
restricted.
Kimberton Community Fair,
Kimberton, Pa., Chester
County
- - Friday, July 19
State Young Farmer’s
Family Picnic, Tread
way Resort, Lancaster
Editor's Quote Book
—Kahil Gibran
1 h