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
(11 years 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.