Since our last meeting three new States and Puerto Rico have been added to the roster of Certified States, making a total of nine States and Puerto Rico which are now completely qualified in this regard. It is anticipated that this number will be nearly doubled within the next six months.

Cull and Dry Cow Testing

As indicated in our previous report, the Animal Disease Eradication Division has continued investigations designed to evaluate cull and dry cow testing. The data so far assembled have been critically reviewed and shown to be statistically sound from the standpoint of maintaining certification of areas. Consequently, as of January 3, 1958, the Agriculture Research Service approved use of this procedure as an alternate method for recertifying range and semi-range areas, conditioned on the development of effective means for tracing back to areas and ranches of origin the cull and dry cows tested at concentration points. As most of you know, the United States Livestock Sanitary Association recommended the adoption of such an amendment to the Uniform Methods and Rules in 1956. Continued studies are being made to determine the suitability of the same general procedure for initial certification or range and semi-range areas.

Personnel Problems

Inability to fully meet service requirements of the program continues to be the most important limiting factor in the brucellosis eradication campaign. In response to a recent questionnaire, 15 States reported their programs were being seriously retarded by failure of fee-basis veterinarians to participate to the extent necessary to meet program needs. On this same survey, 25 States indicated that a shortage of veterinarians was restricting the program.

Even though more than 6000 practicing veterinarians are listed for fee-basis work, not over 50 to 60 percent are participating at any one time. This largely explains the failure to meet service requirements in some areas even though the number of practitioners is adequate.

Qualified technicians are being employed under veterinary supervision in eleven States and Puerto Rico and there is every indication that this type of service is satisfactory. When veterinarians are not available or willing to actively assist, it would appear that the only solution to this problem is supervised use of technicians. The program should not be allowed to fail on this point alone.

Eradication Goal

As progress continues toward early certification of the entire country, it becomes increasingly important that emphasis be placed on the need for continuing the program at its present level until final eradication is achieved, Current results of the accelerated campaign confirm the widely held view that eradication is possible with the intelligent use of available procedures. Modified Certified Brucellosis-Free Areas are especially vulnerable to reinfection at this stage and must remain alert and vigilant if this status is maintained and further progress made toward final eradication. Continued vaccination will be extremely helpful in this regard.

The South Carolina brucellosis eradication project is making good progress with funds available for carrying out the work. Program deficiencies during 1957 included the tendency on the part of fee-testing veterinarians to test easily available herds rather than to give complete coverage of areas assigned. Other factors that retarded activities were the reluctance of some veterinarians to test until restraining chutes were provided and the interruption of fee-testing in June 1957 due to budgetary problems which developed near the close of the fiscal year.

There are only a few local brucellosis committees operating in South Carolina, but livestock committees of the Farm Bureau, the Grange, extension agents and vocational agricultural teachers have effectively supported the work.

Under current operating schedules fourteen counties should be initially certified during calendar year 1958, and all of the remaining forty-six will be doing complete area work at the close of the year. A total of twenty-six counties should be certified as of December 31, 1958.

The goal for Statewide certification has now been established as January 1, 1960 rather than December 1960 as previously reported.

There is ample authority for the certification of brucellosis-free swine herds. Because of the cost and difficulties of establishing and maintaining certified swine herds no program of this type is now in effect nor is one contemplated, during 1958.

Legislation enacted during 1957 provides authority to conduct complete area work in South Dakota. Supplementing this authority there was a substantial increase in State funds appropriated for brucellosis control and eradication activities. Other improvements in the program include enlargement of laboratory facilities, quarantine of infected herds and the use of properly trained and supervised technicians to supplement the professional force.

The most serious problem preventing faster expansion of the program in South Dakota is the acute shortage of veterinary personnel. Through increased use of qualified technicians this problem will be partially alleviated.

Local brucellosis committees were helpful in obtaining the necessary legislation that now permits complete area work.

It is estimated that by December 31, 1958, twelve counties will be certified and complete area work will be underway in an additional eight counties. A goal for State-wide certification has not yet been established.

There are no provisions in South Dakota for the establishment and maintenance of brucellosis-free swine herds.

The brucellosis eradication program in Tennessee has exceeded all expectations in the number of cattle blood tested and calves vaccinated. Lack of sufficient veterinary practitioners is a retarding factor to further expansion of area work.

The most significant improvement during the year was the employment of technicians by the State in area counties to tag, brand, appraise reactors and assist in lining up testing for veterinarians.

County Brucellosis Committees have played a major role in the advancement of the program. It was through these committees that action was initiated to request complete area testing.

The anticipated goals for the calendar year 1958 are: (a) 62 counties to be initially certified (b) complete area work will be in progress in 14 counties and (c) a total of 83 counties certified by December 31, 1958.

The Statewide certification goal is July 1, 1959, which is six months prior to the previous goal of 1960.

There are provisions in Tennessee for the certification of brucellosis-free swine herds. These are applicable, however, only to pure-bred herds.

Acceptance of this program by the pure-bred breeders has been excellent. There appears to be a very low incidence of Brucella infection in Tennessee swine.

Twenty-five new swine herds were certified during calendar year 1957. There were 34 certified brucellosis-free swine herds as of December 31, 1957. There will probably be a total of about 70 such herds as of December 31, 1958.