HEAVY LOSSES MR SPEIR S SUGGESTIONS 3OI 



that the disease is vastly more prevalent than formerly. 

 The losses are heavy in fat bullocks as well as cows. 

 The Ayrshire Butchers' Society, formed for compensat- 

 ing purchasers of animals condemned after slaughter, 

 estimates 12 to 14 per cent, of the animals which passed 

 through their hands to be affected. 



This society urged that tuberculosis should be 

 scheduled as a contagious disease, like pleuro-pneu- 

 monia, while generally through these Scottish dairying 

 counties there is, Mr Speir states, even greater unani- 

 mity in favour of compulsory slaughter of animals 

 affected with tuberculosis than there was as to pleuro- 

 pneumonia, and farmers would accept almost any com- 

 pensation, however small, rather than go on as they are, 



Mr Speir suggests that animals detected by the 

 tuberculin test should at once be excluded from the 

 dairies, should be branded, and that some compensation 

 should be paid for the loss on sale of the carcase. The 

 grave danger from tuberculous cows continuing to give 

 milk is insisted on from all sides. The diseased animal 

 may give saleable milk up to the very last stages of the 

 disease. 



Mr Hope found tuberculosis very prevalent, especially 

 in the in-bred pedigree stock of the northern counties of 

 Scotland, though there is a general reluctance to admit 

 its extent. There is a universal demand among stock- 

 owners in favour of compulsory slaughter with com- 

 pensation. 



While, in the case of cattle slaughtered for pleuro- 

 pneumonia in Edinburgh, it had been found that 20 per 

 cent, of the carcases showed tuberculosis also, Mr Hope 

 is of opinion that the per-centage of tuberculous cattle 

 is now still greater. 



By those witnesses who speak for the districts most 

 affected, and who have given the most attention to the 

 subject, tuberculosis is insisted on as the most important 

 question of agricultural administrative reform at the 

 present time. 



Mr Kay who, in the name of many Lancashire 

 farmers, strongly advocates scheduling tuberculosis and 



