asked the Minister for Lands and Agriculture whether he is aware that contagious abortion in cattle is prevalent in the district of Creeslough, Tirconaill, and that the introduction of the disease into the district, which was free from it until three years ago, is attributed to the bulls supplied by his Department, and whether he will make inquiries into the matter.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - CATTLE DISEASE IN TIRCONAILL.
Mr. HOGAN
The question of the existence of contagious abortion in County Donegal has been recently investigated by the Department. Some sterility exists in the district referred to, but this is due more to the fact that occasionally bulls are allowed to serve too many cows than that the cows are affected with contagious abortion. This year the Department have given special attention to the question of the number of bulls in Co. Donegal. An unusually large number have recently been sent there and it is believed that these measures will meet the situation. The statement that the Department's bulls introduced abortion into the district is untrue as practically all the bulls supplied are yearlings.