A24—Lancaster Fanning, Saturday, March 21,1981
LITITZ Brucellosis, or Bang’s
disease, is a bacterial disease
which costs farmers about $45
million dollars annually, according
to the Animal Plant Health In
spection Service of USDA
Despite the expense of this
disease and its devastating effects
on farmers, especially dairy
producers, the federal and state
indemnity budgets still fall short of
even beginning to cover the costs.
The 1981 Fiscal Year ap
propriations for the federal
program amounted to $l9 million
These total dollars had to be
spread out among all states and
between both the whole herd
depopulation indemnity and the
individual reactor indemnity
programs
The whole herd indemnity was
given $2 million when the funds
finally were released by Congress
last December, two months into
the Fiscal Year But the money
fund totaly depleted by mid-
January, according to Paul
Becton, director of the national
brucellosis eradication program
In the northeast region, Becton
pointed out, there still remain
funds for individual reactor in
demnity payments for claims
made prior to cattle slaughter
around $52,000 worth but these
funds must be shared between 19
states
Becton noted the federal
program does not discriminate
against states who run out of funds
early. He explained the monies can
be redistributed until they are
totally paid out. However, more
states are asking for additional
funds than those who have more
than they need.
In a conversation Wednesday
with APHIS’S northeast director in
New York, Becton said the region
head stated he has kept a small
reserve for whole herd
depopulation indemnities
enough to pay for about a half
dozen animals. Otherwise, the
whole-herd kitty is empty.
Becton stated there is a push in
Washington to convince Congress
to appropriate more funds for the
brucellosis indemnity program.
Chances of more dollars being
made available are slim, he
confessed, because the Reagan
Administration is tightening up the
budget.
Becton pointed out the benefits of
the indemnity program are two
fold:
lt allows the owner to get out
of a tough problem and get back in
business after clean-up;
Indemnity
v It removes the threat of in
fection.
The APHIS official stated his
department was aware of the
David King situation (front page
story), and noted the dairyman
could recover some of his expenses
by salvaging the cattle and taking
the individual reactor indemnity
payments.
‘‘We are concerned about this
kind of herd, ” he concluded
Echoing his superior’s ac
counting of the indemnity budget
was Dr John Moore, chief
veterinarian for APHIS in
Harrisburg
He said the King herd qualifies
for total herd liquidation, but there
are no funds for this type of in
demnity
Moore explained King has
received payments under the in
dividual indemnity program since
brucellosis was discovered in his
herd last July But, said Moore,
King was fighting a losing battle
with the disease he’s elected not
to fight it cow by cow
Conjecturing on how the animals
carrying brucellosis managed to
get through the stringent health
regulations governing interstate
livestock sales, Moore stated
Brucellosis has a long in
cubation period before any
laboratory or clinical signs are
detected. It could take a year for
any recognizable symptoms to
crop up
“The animal could be exposed to
the bacteria, test negative, and
could be a reactor in several weeks
to several months Exposure
doesn’t mean an animal will test
positive - the disease could be
incubating in the host.”
The APHIS veterinarian noted
the bacteria causing the disease,
brucella abortus, is 99 9 percent
ingested, entering the host through
the mouth. He said the bacteria
can be found in troughs, other
cattle, pastures, drinking water,
and other areas around the barn.
The bacteria’s viability outside the
host depends on temperature,
light, and humidity.
When asked if the bacteria could
survive the intense disinfection
program earned out by the state’s
Bureau of Animal Industries
personnel, Moore stated it could be
“theoretically possible but
practically improbable for it to
survive.” He noted that the
thorough disinfection requires the
removal of all organic matter in
the contaminated area and the
application of a bactenacide.
Moore said he recognized the
cupboard almost bare
problem surrounding King’s
claims for indemnity assistance as
being serious, and said APHIS and
the Pennsylvania Department of
Agriculture have assisted King in
exploring routes for funding.
“Unfortunately, there are a lot of
Mr. Kings in a lot of different
states,” he concluded
In Pennsylvania, which is
considered to be a brucellosis-free
state, there are still seven herds
quarantined because of the
disease These herds are located in
the southeast, in Chester, Berks,
Lebanon, and Lancaster counties
During the 1980-81 Fiscal Year,
the state has already paid out
$85,000 in indemnities, leaving
$20,000 in the pot tn Prided
Hvalong Astro. jrtha Margo brought $l7OO
to the top Adams-York Calfarama ‘Bl sale
Tuesday. From left are Larry Amspacher, for
the seller; Melvin Marks; Barbara Kilgore and
Astronaut daughter tops
Adams-York Calfarama
YORK Avalong Astro Martha
Margo, a September heifer by
Paclamar Astronaut, topped the
Adams-York Calfarama ‘Bl sale,
held Tuesday evening at Avalong
Farms.
Margo sold to C. Robert Kilgore,
Aimlle R 2, for $l7OO.
She’s from an Elevation dam
with three and four-year-old
records over 19,000 of milk and 800
of fat. Sale host Avalong Farms
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among claims for not only
brucellosis, but tuberculosis and
Johne’s disease.
According to a PDA
spokesperson, “There are a lot of
claims for the remaining funds,
and no decision has yet been made
on Kmgs’s claim.”
According to Dr John Dick, of
the Bureau of Animal Industry, the
maximum indemnity the state will
pay on an individual reactor is
$lOOO This fee is 67 percent of the
animal’s appraised value
He pomted out additional funds,
up to 90 percent of the appraised
value, can be obtained through the
federal program and through
Sdlv3.^6
"If King goes through with the
consigned the top selling calf.
Second-high seller at $1525 was
Sunnybend Fifi Triple Mars,
purchased by Daniel Albright,
Landisburg.
A December calf, she’s from a
Triple-Threat Red daughter, with
a VG-86 granddam by Samson with
records over 24,000 milk. Con
signor was Sunnybend Farms,
York.
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voluntary depopulation,” said BAI
Chief Veterinarian Max Van-
Buskirk, “PDA has agreed to
process his claim as if there was
federal approval for the
depopulation and funds. The state
approved the depopulation on
January 6.
‘Of course there are no
guarantees. If no federal funds are
available, the state may decide to
pay for the reactors sent to
slaughter. And, we might decide to
pay for the depopulation up to 67
percent of the appraised value.”
So, despite the lack of funds on
the brucellosis indemnity shelf at
the present time, there is still a
glimmer of hope that David King
may find some financial help in
getting back on his feet.
C. Robert Kilgore, buyers; leadsman Billy Jo
Heath; and, in the box, sales manager Doty
Remsburg.
Marvex Dahlia, took the third-high
pace at $l4OO, selling to Kildee
Frams, Chesapeake City,
Maryland.
The April heifer was consigned
by T. Edwin Johnson, Aimlle, and
is from a GP-83 dam by Citation R
Maple, with records over 20,000
milk.
A total of 416 head sold,
averaging over $875.
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