§ Mr. McQuarrieasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if it remains his policy to seek to control for the time being and eventually eradicate Aujeszky's disease.
§ Mrs. FennerThe policy for dealing with Aujeszky's disease remains the same. The objective of the programme was initially to control and then to seek to eradicate the disease. Control was quickly achieved and considerable progress has been made towards the ultimate goal of eradication.
§ Mr. McQuarrieasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what consideration he has given to employing procedures other than the entire slaughter of all herds containing one or more Aujeszky's sero-positive pigs; and what consultation he has had with the pig industry on the subject.
§ Mrs. FennerCareful consideration has been given to the principle of selective slaughter instead of whole herd slaughter where circumstances reveal only one or a few infected animals. Consultations were held and agreement reached with the Pig Disease Eradication Fund Ltd. to the adoption of this approach if the state veterinary service considered it appropriate in particular circumstances.