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The Milk and Dairies Order contains a schedule of certain
conditions and diseases of milch cattle, in addition to Tuberculosis,
which are liable to contaminate the milk supply, and power is
given to prohibit, for a period the use for sale of milk from a cow
suffering from any of these conditions. Action was taken under
this provision on several occasions.
In addition, visits are made and examinations carried out by
the veterinary officer, acting under the provisions of the Diseases
of Animals Acts and Orders and, where necessary, samples of
milk and other material are taken and examined microscopically.
These measures resulted in the detection of three cows which came
within the scope of the Tuberculosis Order and, as a consequence,
these animals were slaughtered under the provisions of the Diseases
of Animals Acts.
The diminished value of cow beef—which is now largely
governed by the price obtained for imported meat—together with
the operation of the Milk Marketing Scheme, is tending to make
cow-keeping in cities less profitable than formerly, save in the
case of those producers who are licensed to produce "Grade A"
milk, and thus receive a special bonus under the Accredited Milk
Scheme of the Milk Marketing Board in addition to the extra
price charged for "Grade A" milk. The tendency, therefore, is
for the ordinary producer to give up cow keeping in towns, but
"Grade A" producers, on the other hand, are tending to increase
the number of cows in their herds. This has already taken place
in West Ham, and doubtless this tendency will take place, in due
course, in rural areas.
The Slaughter of Animals Act, 1933.
The Slaughter-House Bye-Laws.
The Knackers'-Yard Bye-Laws.
This work is carried out by the Meat Inspector, Mr. T. R.
Harris, who reports as follows:—
Slaughter of Animals Act, 1933.
Sections 1 and 2, as applied to West Ham, require that no
animal (i.e. any horse, mare, gelding, pony, foal, colt, filly, stallion,
ass, donkey, mule, bull, cow, bullock, heifer, calf, steer, ox,
sheep, ewe, wether, ram, lamb, pig, boar, hog, sow, goat or kid)
killed in a slaughter-house or knackers'-yard in the Borough shall
be slaughtered or stunned except by means of a mechanically
operated instrument. Infringements, which have been few, have
been dealt with verbally or by warning letters. Generally, however,
the requirements of the Act in this respect have been satisfactorily
complied with.
Section 3 provides that "no animal shall be slaughtered or
stunned in a slaughter-house or knacker's-yard by any person who
is not the holder of a licence granted by a local authority and in
force under this section." The Council, in December, 1933, issued
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