§ Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what research has been undertaken by his Department into the possible connection between livestock stress and vulnerability to infection.
§ Mr. Donald ThompsonThe Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food funds research at the Institute of Animal Health on the influence of social and other stress on immunosuppression in poultry vaccinated against Marek's disease virus, and on the effects of stress in early life on the incidence and pathogenesis of infectious stunting syndrome in poultry.
In addition, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food funds programmes of research into the causes and effects of stress in farm animals and its objective assessment, and into the causes/pathogenesis and immune responses to infections. Connections between stress and vulnerability to infections are continually kept in mind and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food will commission further investigations as considered necessary.