§ Mr. Gwynfor Evansasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how far his plans have progressed in Wales to eradicate brucellosis in cattle.
§ Mr. PeartThe first essential in Wales as elsewhere is to build up a register of brucellosis accredited herds to provide replacements for any subsequent eradication scheme. This is because some 14 per cent. of the cattle in Great Britain, including a not appreciably lower percentage in Wales, would react at present to diagnostic tests. Most of these animals are healthy and would react because of vaccination. To slaughter such animals would be a waste of national resources and would in any case be impracticable until replacements are available from herds of known status.
§ Mr. Gwynfor Evansasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what evidence he has from Wales on the effectiveness or otherwise of the S19 vaccine as a means of preventing the development of brucellosis in cattle.
§ Mr. PeartThis vaccine has done a great deal to reduce the incidence of brucellosis in cattle over the last twenty or so years from a high level to something like 2 per cent. in dairy herds.
There is no evidence that the vaccine is less effective in Wales than elsewhere, but it will not necessarily stand up in every case to a heavy challenge of infection.