§ Miss Emma NicholsonTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to ensure that injured cattle are given priority in abattoirs during the bovine spongiform encephalopathy culling programme. [34107]
§ Mrs. BrowningOne of the key principles of the allocation of slaughtering to abattoirs under the over-30-month slaughter scheme is that the slaughter of casualty animals should be given priority. Special arrangements have therefore been made for the handling of such animals. Cattle which are unfit to travel or injured can be slaughtered on-farm by licensed slaughtermen and subsequently transported to a designated slaughterhouse on a dedicated day or direct to an approved incinerator for disposal. A freephone service provides farmers with a single contact point to arrange for the efficient and humane slaughter of casualty animals.