HC Deb 28 July 1977 vol 936 cc427-8W
Mr. Cronin

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give figures comparing the conception rate among mares visiting the National Stud during the last racehorse-breeding season with the season before.

Dr. Summerskill

Following is the information:

Covering Season Conception Rate
1976 91 per cent.
1977 42 per cent.

Mr. Cronin

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to reduce the incidence of genital infection in thoroughbred racehorses.

Dr. Summerskill

As I indicated in my reply to a Question from the hon. Member for Richmond, Yorks. (Sir T. Kitson) on 11th July—[Vol. 935, c. 17–18]—the Horserace Betting Levy Board, through its Veterinary Advisory Committee under the chairmanship of Professor Sir David Evans, has rigorously pursued its efforts to identify the organism responsible for the genital infection at a large number of studs in the Newmarket area. The Committee has now concluded that the organism responsible for the infection, the clinical signs of which are also new to veterinary surgeons, is one that has not previously been classified.

Sir David Evans

is also supervising the formulation, by a team of specialist veterinarians, of a code of practice covering procedures which relate not only to the current outbreak but also to stud hygiene in general. This code of practice will he distributed as widely as possible. It is hoped that use of the code and the application of the findings of the general research effort will assist in reducing the incidence of genital infection in thoroughbreds.