Animal Health Act 1981

2 (1) The Minister shall cause to be slaughtered all cattle affected with pleuro-pneumonia.

(2) The Minister may, if he thinks fit, in any case cause to be slaughtered—

(a) any cattle suspected of being affected with pleuro-pneumonia ; and

(b) any cattle which are or which have been in the same field, shed, or other place, or in the same herd or otherwise in contact with cattle affected with pleuro-pneumonia, or which appear to the Minister to have been in any way exposed to the infection of pleuro-pneumonia.

(3) The Minister shall for cattle slaughtered under this paragraph pay compensation as follows—

(a) where the animal slaughtered was affected with pleuropneumonia, the compensation shall be three-fourths of the value of the animal immediately before it became so affected, but so that the compensation does not in any such case exceed £30 ; and

(b) in every other case the compensation shall be the value of the animal immediately before it was slaughtered, but so that the compensation does not in any case exceed £40.

(4) Where the Minister has decided that any head of cattle is to be slaughtered under this paragraph, the Minister shall, if the owner of such head of cattle by notice in writing so requires cause the same to be slaughtered within 21 days after the receipt of the notice.