(a) It shall be the duty of the Commissioner to eradicate tuberculosis in cattle. The Commissioner shall have full and complete authority and responsibility in all livestock sanitary control work.

(b) To enable the Commissioner to eradicate bovine tuberculosis effectively and to aid him in establishing a modified accredited tuberculosis-free area, in conformity with the rules and regulations promulgated by the United States Animal Health Association and adopted by the secretary of agriculture, United States Department of Agriculture, the authority having charge of county affairs of any county in which the state and federal governments jointly engage in a tuberculosis eradication campaign may appropriate such sums as they may deem adequate and necessary to aid in this work. The Commissioner or his duly authorized agent is empowered to enter upon any premises, barn, lot, or any other place where cattle are kept, for the purpose of applying tests with tuberculin to ascertain whether or not the cattle so tested are affected with tuberculosis. The owners or keepers of such cattle shall render such reasonable assistance as may be required to enable the Commissioner or his agent to apply the test with accuracy and promptness.