(a) If the Commissioner receives information or has reason to believe that tuberculosis exists in any cattle, he shall promptly notify the owner or owners and shall arrange to have such cattle tested by a qualified veterinarian.

(b) All cattle which shall react to a tuberculin test shall immediately after such reaction be branded on the left jaw with the letter "T," such letter to be not less than two inches in length; and in addition such reactors shall be tagged in the left ear with a special tag to be adopted by the Commissioner. All cattle so identified shall be slaughtered within a period of 14 days immediately following such reaction, such slaughter to be under the direction of the Commissioner in a slaughterhouse where federal or competent local meat inspection is maintained. The owners of such reactors to the tuberculin test shall be indemnified for such cattle, as provided for in this article.