Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 21 Jun 1990

Vol. 400 No. 3

Written Answers. - Bovine TB Eradication.

John Connor

Ceist:

23 Mr. Connor asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food, in relation to the 43,385 bovine animals found to be TB reactors in the national herd in the period from 1 January 1989 to 31 December 1989, if he will outline (a) the number of those animals slaughtered as reactors within that year (b) the number of animals slaughtered that showed positive evidence of bovine TB on post-mortem examinations (c) the number of slaughtered reactors that showed no positive evidence of bovine TB on post-mortem examinations and (d) if post-mortem examinations are carried out on all animals slaughtered as TB reactors.

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mr. O'Kennedy)

I understand from the director of ERAD that under the national reactor collection service all reactors disclosed are collected and slaughtered within one week.

Of the 43,385 reactors disclosed in 1989 a total of 13,336 showed visible lesions on slaughter. Failure to detect lesions does not indicate the absence of TB.

Detailed post-mortem examination are carried out on all animals slaughtered as reactors.