andMr. T. O'Donnell asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he will state in view of the difficulties being experienced with Strain 19 brucellosis vaccine why this live vaccine continues to be used instead of the dead vaccine now available.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Brucellosis Vaccine.
10.
Experience over the past 20 years in many countries has shown that the vaccination of young calves with Strain 19 gives a substantial degree of protection against brucellosis over a number of pregnancies.
However, in the case of dead vaccine the length of the protection given to young calves is not known at present. Experiments in this regard are being carried out.
11.
andMr. T. O'Donnell asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he will now notify the farmers who have been using faulty brucellosis vaccine and advise them as to the best way to deal with the situation in which they now find themselves.
There is no evidence that Strain 19 when applied to a young heifer calf will not give a substantial measure of protection against brucellosis over a number of pregnancies.
It must, however, be emphasised that this protection cannot be expected to stand up against a strong challenge of infection.
12.
andMr. T. O'Donnell asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries (a) the number of experiments carried out to test brucellosis vaccine, (b) the dates and places where these experiments were carried out, (c) the number of cows used in each trial and the result in each case, (d) the source from which the vaccine came, and (e) the names of the agents in Ireland for these vaccines.
Within the past two years two experiments using small numbers of animals and involving both Strain 19 and killed vaccines have been carried out at my Department's Veterinary Research Laboratory at Abbotstown. The results of these experiments cannot be regarded as conclusive and a further series of experiments involving larger numbers of animals is now in progress. Two of the vaccines were of British origin and one was continental. I do not think it would be appropriate for me to give the names of the agents.
What is the secret? That is what I would like to know. What makes secret the information as to the result of the experiments carried out?
I have said that the results were not regarded as conclusive.
But what were the results?
——and that further experiments are being carried out. The results were not very positive and we would not regard them as reliable.
Is it not a fact that there was a complete breakdown of 25 animals?
Not complete.
On 25 animals, and the 25 aborted.
Question No. 13 postponed.