§ 19. Mr. de Freitasasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food approximately how many gilts and sows in commercial herds were artificially inseminated during the last twelve months.
Mr. AmoryI am informed that the number of sows and gilts in commercial herds inseminated during the past year by the four cattle breeding centres that have been conducting pilot schemes for pigs was 1,800.
§ Mr. de FreitasIs the Minister aware that those who have used artificial insemination in pig breeding feel much encouraged about the future of this improvement in the pig industry? But is he also aware that expansion of the practice appears to be very slow? Is the Ministry taking enough interest in this matter?
Mr. AmoryI hope so, because I agree with the hon. Gentleman that, in the long-term, this will probably be as important in the case of pigs as for cattle. But, in the short-term, it has not reached the commercial stage yet, and I am advised that there are many problems still to be solved. I hope that the institution of the Pig Industry Development Authority which we are proposing, and which, among other things, will have responsibility for the supervision of the policy of A.I. in the pig industry, will hasten the solution of some of the outstanding problems.