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It almost decimated the cattle industry in Western KY in the late 50's 
early 60's. KY cracked down on it. They would take care of your problem 
but if you didn't call them they would take care of you. A vaccine was 
developed. I went the state 4H demonstration day with my presentation on 
Blackleg and how to vaccinate for it in the late 50's - yes I'm that old 
but sure don't act it. Even with a vaccine you need to use great care 
when disposing of dead livestock.

There a lot of soil bound germs and/or spores that can cause significant 
disease - anthrax also comes to mind. Horses can also carry some of 
these the one that comes to mind is anthrax which can also be picked up 
by humans.

Truman

Jody Rogers-Buttram wrote:
> Truman,
>  
>   Blackleg is still around, and what our agent and vets have told us 
> is to burn the dead
> cow.  We have a pit, and all dead animals go into the pit and are 
> burned.  But, the pit
> has a concrete bottom, so that may help to prevent the spread of any 
> spores or germs.
>  
> Jody
>
> --- On *Wed, 12/17/08, Truman Prevatt /<tprevatt@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>/* wrote:
>
>     Most likely it has to do with public health issues - either human, live
>     stock or both. When I was growing up in KY it was a major fine to bury a
>     dead cow on your property - no matter how large. It had to do with
>     preventing the spreading of a certain contagious disease - black leg
>     fever. Blackleg came from a spore that could live in the soil for many
>     years. If you left put the dead in the ground you were adding to the
>     spore content of the soil.
>
>     If we had a dead cow we called the county agent and a truck would come
>     out and haul the cow to an incinerator. While some laws may seem silly -
>     they might be based in historically valid reasons.
>
>     Truman
>
>               


--

"The trouble with fighting for human freedom is that one spends most of 
one's time defending scoundrels. For it is against scoundrels that 
oppressive laws are first aimed, and oppression must be stopped at the 
beginning if it is to be stopped at all."   H. L. Mencken


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