§ 51. Sir R. Glynasked the Minister of Agriculture whether it is the policy of his Department to encourage farmers to subject their cattle to the ordinary system of tuberculin testing; what proportion of the dairy herds in England are so tested; 110W and what steps he proposes to take to increase the number of cattle so classified.
§ Mr. T. WilliamsYes. Farmers are encouraged strongly in this direction both by advice and by the premium of 4d. a gallon paid on milk from herds that have successfully passed the tests. What proportion of such herds are dairy herds I cannot say exactly, but such herds provided over 21 per cent. of all milk sold off farms in England and Wales in the year ended September, 1948.
§ 52. Sir R. Glynasked the Minister of Agriculture if he will give the figures of the number of store cattle imported from Eire during the last six months, compared with the similar period in 1947 and 1946; and whether any segregation arrangements are made for cattle which have passed tuberculin testing prior to embarkation provided consignments shipped are not subject to infection.
§ Mr. T. WilliamsDuring the last six months 98,000 store cattle were landed in Great Britain direct from Eire, compared with 96,000 and 147,000 in the corresponding period (August—January) a year and two years ago, respectively. Under whatever conditions cattle which have passed a tuberculin test in Eire may be transported to attested farms in this country, they are required to be isolated on arrival at those farms pending official test not less than 60 days later.