§ 55. Sir Richard Glynasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proportion of bulls standing at artificial insemination centres were tested for vibrio foetus in the 12 months to the last convenient date; what proportion of tests were positive; and what steps were taken to reduce the risk of spreading the infection.
§ Mr. Scott-HopkinsDuring the year ended 31st October, 1962, 182 bulls, or 16 per cent. of all bulls standing at artificial insemination centres in England and Wales, were tested for vibrio foetus (through test matings). Only one of these bulls gave a positive result to the test. This bull was a new entrant and was removed from the centre before it had been used for artificial insemination. All other bulls are subjected to sheath lavage when they first enter the A.I. centre and at regular intervals, and all A.I. centres add antibiotics to the semen during processing. No case of vibrio foetus infection has been attributable to the A.I. service for the past five years.