§ Mr. Championasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proportion of the sheep in England and Wales is suffering from the disease of foot-rot.
§ Mr. John HareI regret that this information is not available.
§ Mr. Championasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to what extent it is possible to eliminate foot-rot from a flock on every type and condition of soil.
§ Mr. John HareAppropriate treatment and the segregation of affected animals can lead to the eradication of foot-rot from a flock. Wet pasture favours the spread of infection if already present but does not itself cause the trouble. The disease spreads more rapidly when sheep are closely folded on wet land in the winter than when they are grazing dry pasture in the summer. Once 97W foot-rot is eradicated the flock will remain free from it unless the infection is reintroduced by other sheep.
I am sending the hon. Member a copy of a leaflet on the subject.