§ Mr. Wolrige-Gordonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what he estimates to be the cost of clearing of a herd of 100 cows from brucellosis, provided that no reactors are found.
§ Mr. MackieUnder the Brucellosis (Accredited Herds) Scheme the agricultural Departments undertake qualifying tests and the official blood test without charge. If the qualifying tests establish the absence of reactors, the cost to the owner of clearing the herd will consist only of any expense inherent to the testing programme e.g. for congregating the herd or for isolating individual animals. Where, however, the milk ring tests have given inconclusive results, all animals in the batch or batches concerned have to be blood sampled at a fee agreed with the owner's veterinary surgeon and paid by the owner. The subsequent laboratory costs are defrayed by the agricultural Departments. Laboratory costs to the Department are of the order of 1s. for a milk ring test and 3s. 6d. for a straight-forward blood test.