Bovine Tuberculosis

Lord Soulsby of Swaffham Prior Excerpts
Tuesday 26th November 2013

(11 years ago)

Lords Chamber
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Lord De Mauley Portrait Lord De Mauley
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The noble Countess makes an extremely good point, and I cannot disagree with what she says.

Lord Soulsby of Swaffham Prior Portrait Lord Soulsby of Swaffham Prior (Con)
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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.

Lord De Mauley Portrait Lord De Mauley
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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.