Slaughter of diseased or suspected animals

(1) An Officer may cause any diseased or suspected animal, or any animal which has been on the same land, or in the same herd or flock as, or in contact with, any diseased or suspected animal, whether or not any such land has been declared to be an infected place or is within an infected area, to be slaughtered in order to prevent the spread of the disease; and for such purpose the Officer may give all such directions as he may consider necessary. (2) An Officer may, for the purpose of observation and treatment, take possession of and retain any animal liable to be slaughtered under this section.