§ 65 Mr. COZENS-HARDYasked the Parliamentary Secretary whether he can state the average number of calves killed weekly in public slaughter-houses in England from the 1st of January to the 1st of March, 1919; whether these public slaughter-houses take for their own benefit the hide, sweetbread, etc., of each calf slaughtered; whether the large number of calves slaughtered will cause a short supply of young cattle in the country; and whether steps can be taken to prevent this either by an Order that the best calves should be sold for rearing only or by some other means?
§ 66. Mr. CAREWasked the Parliamentary Secretary whether he is aware of the increasing number of calves being slaughtered every week; and whether this will cause a serious danger to the future meat and milk supply of the country?
Sir A. BOSCAWENThe average number of calves slaughtered each week, as returned from the slaughter-houses in January and February, was about 20,000. Calves are bought outright by the Ministry of Food, who take the whole proceeds of the sale of the animal. The number returned from the slaughter- 1283 houses has markedly increased since the Calves (Sales) Order of the 21st August, which prohibits the slaughter of a calf, except at a Government slaughter-house, but this does not afford sufficient evidence of an abnormal increase in the total number killed. The number of calves in Great Britain at the beginning of last month was slightly larger than that at the corresponding period of last year. In these circumstances there does not appear to be any adequate reason for the imposition of further restrictions at the present time on the sale of calves. Any calves worth rearing are generally saved, and by the slaughter of inferior animals a desirable economy in milk is effected.