HC Deb 29 July 1913 vol 56 cc290-1
58. Mr. NEWMAN

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) whether his attention has been called to an observation which the President of the English Board of Agriculture made in Scotland, recently, to the effect that contagious abortion among live stock is a greater danger than foot-and-mouth disease; whether this disease was introduced into one of the dairy herds of the Irish Agricultural Department by two cows imported from England; whether this disease has existed there for the last two years in spite of all the efforts of the Board's experts to eradicate it; what steps are being taken to prevent the spread of the disease in that district; whether the disease exists in other parts of Ireland; and, if so, where, and for what periods, and what means are being taken to eradicate it?

The CHIEF SECRETARY for IRELAND (Mr. Birrell)

The attention of my right hon. Friend has been drawn to the statement in question, and he concurs with the views of the President of the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries as to the seriousness of contagious abortion among cows, though he is not in a position to compare the losses arising from it with those from foot-and-mouth disease. The disease broke out in one of the Department's dairy herds in the North of Ireland last year, but it cannot be said positively how it was introduced. The usual precautions to prevent the spread of the disease, namely, isolation of the affected animals and thorough disinfection, have been taken with, so far, satisfactory results. Contagious abortion in cattle has existed in Great Britain and Ireland for many years, but judging by the complaints now received it is not so prevalent in Ireland as it was formerly. The means taken to eradicate it are the dissemination of knowledge amongst farmers as to the necessity for isolation and thorough disinfection, and for the improvement of the hygienic condition under which the herd is kept. This information is disseminated by the agricultural instructors who are employed in every county in Ireland, and by means of pioneer lectures and leaflets, as well as at the winter classes of agriculture held throughout the country.