The Iowa Cow War was a series of violent disputes over the testing of cows for bovine tuberculosis in Iowa, United States, in 1931. After distrustful farmers tried and failed to repeal the testing program, they congregated to block tests from taking place. The farmers believed that the test might infect cows with tuberculosis or make pregnant cows have spontaneous abortions. They also believed that the testing was unconstitutional. The owner of Muscatine radio station KTNT, Norman G. Baker, spread misinformation which resulted in more farmers protesting the testing, sometimes violently. Fifty veterinarians, all working in pairs and while being protected, gave injections to 5,000 cattle per day for a week.
The Iowa Cow War came to a conclusion when 31 Iowa National Guard units were deployed to stop the protesting. Two farmers were convicted for their actions during the conflict and spent 40 days in jail. There was one serious injury, and no deaths. Most of the testing was completed by October 1931.
Background
Bovine tuberculosis was a problem in the US state of Iowa and in 1929 attempts at eradication were approved. An Iowa veterinarian in 1894 said that tuberculosis was the main issue that his office faced. People often did not understand the danger of tuberculosis in cows due to the long period of incubation and its effects. Many respected medical professionals thought that cows were unable to transmit the disease to people, including Robert Koch, who completed early research on tuberculosis. The State of Iowa began requiring testing to reduce the frequency with which dairy cattle with tuberculosis could contaminate the milk supply and cause milk-drinking people to contract the disease. The program was financed by a property tax levy of up to three mills.
Veterinarians, who were approved by the State of Iowa, injected tuberculin under the base of the cows' tails. After 72 hours, the veterinarians would see if the cows had any reactions to the tuberculin, such as swelling. Cows that reacted were slaughtered and the farmers were paid an indemnity. The farmers did not receive the market share of their cows after they were slaughtered, and the slaughter value was subtracted from the appraised value. On September 21, 1931, when state officials left the courthouse at noon, protestors followed them to Jacob W. Lenker's farm. The farmers also had pitchforks. Tear gas was used against the farmers, but there was not much effect. Malcolm's tires were punctured, his gas line was slashed, and mud was put in his radiator. People heard yells of "Here comes the Army!" and "You farmers better run!" when the troops jumped from the rail cars.