—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, October 29,1977 102 Brucellosis cases down (Continued from Page 1C1) in the south, had MCI rates of greater than 0.2 percent - rates which must be reduced before eradication efforts can be successful. APHIS officals see several reasons for these high rates. Many of the Southern states were slow getting started on eradication. They are as much as 20 years behind a number of Northern states which have practically eradicated brucellosis. Another reason cited for the high infection rates is the “milk factory.” In some areas, huge herds of cattle are kept in highly con centrated lots. The possibility of spreading disease is greatly magnified. Operators are concerned The American Presidency is firmly rooted in agriculture through the farm ties of over half the men who have held that office. From the first, George Washington, to the 39th, Jimmy Carter, 23 U.S. Presidents were raised on, owned or ran farms. In 1976, American dairy cows produced enough milk to form a river that would measure 2,904 miles long, 41 feet wide and three-and-a balf feet deep. It would stretch from Boston to San Francisco. If put in gallon cartons and placed side by side, the 120 billion pounds of milk produced would form a band around the world 85 times at the equator. The most prolific dairy stud bull in the country, Paclamar Astronaut, has sired over 100,000 offspring. He is estimated to have a female descendant in one of every three dairy herds m the U.S. These cows produce more than 600 million quarts of milk in one year, enough to supply every American with three glasses of milk a day for a full year. IF YOU CAN FIND A TRACT LESSFUE THAN DE BUY IT. water-cooled jobs Come in and let us show you the facts about fuel economy offered on any Deutz from the smallest to the largest With fuel costs so high, you’d better go Deutz Tractors with volume milk produc tion. Cattle are viewed only as machines which change grain and forage to milk. Disease control is often neglected. For years, critics of the program have said that, with high infection rates and a few dishonest dealers who keep spreading the disease, the government should seek only to control brucellosis. They say eradication is impossible and costly. (They point to the more than one billion dollars the state and federal governments and producers have spent on the program since 1934.) Dr. Mulhern counters that argument by pointing out that the animal infection rate nationwide has Careful research, improved methods of selection, breeding and feeding have made the dairy cow the world’s most productive source of milk. During the past 150 years milk production per cow has jumped from an estimated 1,500 quarts annually to over 4,800 quarts! We sure wouldn't even suggest that you look at another tractor unless we were convinced that the Deutz air-cooled diesel-powered tractor leads the field in fuel savings—up to 34% over some STAUFFER DIESEL, INC. 312 W. Main St. New Holland, PA Ph. 717-354-4181 decreased from 11.5 percent in 1934 to less than a half of one percent today. “When we first started the program, success was rapid,” he said. “As the infection rate decreased, however, it became more expensive to find the fewer infected animals. They were harder to find. The program moved from a stage where it was of major interest to the cattle industry to a program of minor importance. “We can’t think of the cost of the program in terms of the present losses created by the disease. We have greatly reduced those losses,” Dr. Mulhern said. “We must think of what the disease could do if it were left un controlled. All the expenses of the program will be counteracted by losses we won’t have after the disease is eradicated. It’s like putting money in the bank. In the long run, a control program would be more expensive and a disease threat would always be present.” Losses due to brucellosis annually are about $3O million now. Losses come from abortion, decreases in milk yield and the need to buy more replacement cattle. In 1947, before an intensive brucellosis campaign was started, losses from the disease were greater than $lOO million. That’s about $3OO million in 1977 dollars. A recent study concluded that, left un checked, the disease could create annual losses of up to $B5O million annually within ten years. Losses from brucellosis have already reached zero in nine states and the U.S. Virgin Islands. States with no brucellosis quarantined herds are: Alaska, Con necticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire and Rhode Island. As for combatting dishonesty. Dr. Mulhern commented, “Even if you have a leaky boat, you can get the water out if you bail fast enough. I think we can wipe out brucellosis despite this problem.” For the battle ahead, Dr. Mulhem feels that APHIS has most of the necessary tools to eradicate the disease. He said there may be a need for changes in regulations, however, as problems arise. Epidemiologists - animal GOING OUT OF BUSINESS SALE MORE FOR YOUR MONEY WHEN YOU BUY A CHAIN SAW WITH THESE PROFESSIONAL FEATURES Big 3 1 cu in engine that’s light and easy to handle Introducing naerPr Professional performance H] ■ HO at an affordable price. ni I See it today at UST 234 95 s"] 78.95 GEHMAN BROTHERS EAST EARL RDI, PENNA. 17519 ALONG RT. 897 1 MILE NO. OF TERRE HILL (215) 445-6272 disease experts - are con tinually studying brucellosis and recommending changes as they are needed. Changes which may soon be necessary to prevent the spread of infection are; the replacement of the county certification status with a state status and stricter rules governing the in terstate movement of cattle. Dr. Mulhern said these changes are necessary because of improvements in transportation that enable dealers to move cattle long distances with ease. Special 4-point heavy-duty clutch anti-vibration for superior isolation system performance, for smooth, increased easy' Mng durability Chrome plated Optional cylinder chain brake “We’ve turned the table on this disease,” Dr. Mulhem said. “The most important need of the brucellosis program rights .now is commitment. We must change the attitude of in dustry and regulatory of ficials. “I feel confident that we have the technical know-how to eradicate the disease. But wishing it away won’t make it so,” he emphasized. “We’ve got a lot of hard work ahead. With cooperation, we can beat brucellosis.” MANY OTHER MODELS TO SELECT FROM AT REDUCED PRICES
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