§ 51. Mr. Harold Daviesasked the Minister of Agriculture how many head of cattle have been destroyed in north Staffordshire as a result of foot-and-mouth disease.
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§ Sir T. Dugdale1429 cattle have been destroyed in North Staffordshire since the first outbreak in the present series occurred there on 15th April.
§ 57. Major Anstruther-Grayasked the Minister of Agriculture how many animals have been destroyed in Scotland owing to the recent outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease.
§ Sir T. DugdaleThe first outbreak in Scotland in the present series occurred on 26th April; and since that date 899 cattle, 2,229 sheep and 53 pigs have been destroyed.
§ 59. Mr. A. Robertsasked the Minister of Agriculture if he will state the cost to his Department of research on foot-and-mouth disease of cattle during the past five years.
§ Sir T. DugdaleFor the cost in the last three years I would refer the hon. Member to my reply on 12th May to my right hon. Friend the Member for Enfield, West (Mr. lain MacLeod). Expenditure in 1947–48 and 1948–49 amounted to £45,000 and £66,000, respectively.
61 Mr. Philips Priceasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that, on an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease after the livestock are slaughtered, hay and roots are sometimes left on the farmer's hands; and what steps are taken to prevent their sale and distribution round the country, thus spreading the disease.
§ Sir T. DugdaleThe Foot-and-Mouth Disease Order. 1928, prohibits the movement of anything from an infected place except with a licence granted by an inspector of my Department, and in accordance with specified conditions. Where there is any reason to suppose that hay, roots or other feedingstuffs on an infected farm have been contaminated they are destroyed or disinfected.
§ 62. Colonel Stoddart-Scottasked the Minister of Agriculture if he is aware of the tri-valent vaccine used effectively in the Argentine for foot-and-mouth disease; and what results were obtained from the experiments done at the Pirbright research station with the 10 gallons of serum given by the Argentine Government in 1943.
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§ Sir T. DugdaleResearch at Pirbright on vaccination against foot-and-mouth disease includes the use of tri-valent vaccines such as that used in the Argentine. With regard to the second part of the Question, numerous unsolicited gifts of serum are received by the Institute. I understand that the hyper immune serum to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers came from a commercial firm. The nature and properties of hyper immune serum are well known to the Institute.
§ 65. Mr. Hollisasked the Minister of Agriculture whether, as part of the campaign against foot-and-mouth disease, he will encourage the construction at every farm of a shallow concrete dip, to be filled with a solution of strong disinfectant, through which the cattle can be daily driven.
§ Sir T. DugdaleI am advised that my hon. Friend's suggestion would not be effective in preventing outbreaks since, under natural conditions, cattle do not contract foot-and-mouth disease through the feet, but through the mucus membranes.