Vol. 512 No. 3
130 Mr. Flanagan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if he has investigated a serious case of mycoplasma infection at a farm in County Laois where 158 cattle died; his views on whether an investigation is appropriate in view of the circumstances of the case (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25861/99]
The herdowner in question experienced a large number of losses of both young calves and dairy cows following the importation of livestock from another member state of the European Union. My Department's veterinary laboratory service, VLS, has been involved in investigating the problem in consultation with the herdowner's private veterinary practitioner. This involvement included two herd-investigation visits by research officers of the VLS; post mortem examination of samples from 15 calves and five cows from the herd at Kilkenny regional veterinary laboratory; examination of milk samples; examination of a large number of various clinical samples submitted from animals still in the herd; advice during the visits and by phone and by letter to both the practitioner and herdowner.
The Department has identified a number of different diseases in the herd, including calf scour, pneumonia, lameness and mastitis caused by salmonella dublin, cryptosporidia, pasteurella haemolytica and mycoplasma bovis, M. bovis. These findings have been communicated to the private veterinary practitioner. The diagnostic and advice service of my Department's veterinary laboratory service continues to be available to the herdowner and the private practitioner.
As I conveyed in my reply to Question No. 115 on 1 June last, M. bovis is relatively common in this country and in other member states of the European Union. Over the past four years 18% of total bovine pneumonia cases presented to the Department's regional veterinary laboratories were diagnosed as M. bovis positive. I also indicated in that reply that M. bovis is not a notifiable disease and that my Department is accordingly not involved in any scheme of depopulation or eradication.
In relation to the disease risks associated with imported animals, it is the policy of my Department to recommend that herdowners source their livestock imports from reputable suppliers and to isolate all purchased animals, particularly imported stock, for as long as possible. A minimum of four weeks is recommended during which time the animals should be closely monitored for signs of disease. If any disease is suspected, they should continue to isolate all the purchased animals and consult their veterinary surgeon for advice.
