Upon receiving information that an infectious or contagious disease exists or is suspected to exist in any herd or in any locality, the department may investigate or cause an investigation to be made. If the department deems it to be advisable it may quarantine such animals, take such precautionary measures with relation to other animals exposed to the disease as shall be deemed necessary, and enforce such regulations in relation to the disease as it may adopt.
N.J.S. § 4:5-6