§ Mr. Matthew TaylorTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the appearance of symptoms similar to those574W exhibited by cattle affected by bovine spongiform encephalopathy in antelopes in British zoos; and if he has any plans in the light of this development to take further action to eliminate bovine spongiform encephalopathy.
§ Mr. MacleanFive antelopes in British zoos have been confirmed as being affected by a spongiform encephalopathy. The disease occurred in a nyala in 1986 and a gemsbok in 1987, both of which are mentioned in the published report of the Southwood working party on BSE, and in an oryx, a kudu and an eland in 1989. The probable source of infection was via commercial feedstuffs. The use of ruminant protein in ruminant (which includes animals of this kind) feedstuffs has been prohibited since July 1988.