asked the Minister for Agriculture if his Department or the Agricultural Institute have carried out any research work on the causes and prevention of bovine tuberculosis; and, if not, whether he will now make arrangements to have a through scientific investigation made on those farms where an exceptionally high incidence of the disease has been found.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Bovine Tuberculosis Research.
13.
Considerable research and investigation in many countries have established that bovine tuberculosis is caused by a micro-organism known as tubercle bacillus (bovine strain) and that the disease is most commonly spread by the ingestion or inhalation of bacilli discharged by infected animals. It is accepted by the veterinary and scientific authorities in all countries where the disease is being or has been eradicated that the only way to get rid of the disease is by the tuberculin testing of all herds, the removal and slaughter of reactors, disinfection of premises, admission to clear herds of only healthy stock, the application of suitable controls over the movement of stock and over public sales, the pasteurisation of separated milk fed to calves, etc. Once the disease is eradicated its re-appearance can be effectively controlled.
In dairying areas tuberculous infection is more widespread, mainly due to the environmental conditions under which stock, cows in particular, are kept. Infected animals housed with others can be a source of rapid spread of the disease. It is, therefore, very important that such animals should be suitably isolated pending their removal and slaughter.