Bovine Tuberculosis Debate
Full Debate: Read Full DebateLord Soulsby of Swaffham Prior
Main Page: Lord Soulsby of Swaffham Prior (Conservative - Life peer)Department Debates - View all Lord Soulsby of Swaffham Prior's debates with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
(10 years, 12 months ago)
Lords ChamberThe noble Countess makes an extremely good point, and I cannot disagree with what she says.
My Lords, artificial insemination has been a practice in this country in dairy cattle for more than 30 years, and I wonder where this suggestion has come from. There is very little evidence—no evidence whatever to my mind—that AI can result in the transmission of TB to cattle. I hope that the Minister will scotch that idea, because we have an amazing health record in this country for AI and tuberculosis control.
I am most grateful to my noble friend because he enables me to say, perhaps more categorically than I said to start with, that research indicates that there is no link between TB susceptibility and milk production traits.