asked the Minister for Agriculture if any consideration or provision is being given to the change in testing procedures under the TB eradication scheme so that there would be a six monthly obligatory test on all cattle, as opposed to the existing 30 days test which has not resolved the problem; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - TB Eradication Scheme.
323.
Because of limitations on resources of manpower and finance it would not be practicable to introduce obligatory six monthly TB testing of all herds in place of the pre-movement testing requirement. Pre-movement testing is, in fact, a valuable adjunct to the disease eradication programme, resulting in the disclosure of many reactors which might otherwise remain undetected until a subsequent herd test.