§ 9. Mr. Monroasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether dairy cows in a milking herd, producing beef cross calves, will be eligible for the beef cow subsidy.
§ Mr. HoyBeef cow subsidy is payable, irrespective of breed, on cows in herds kept primarily for breeding calves for beef. The definition does not necessarily exclude cows in herds from which some milk is produced; but the decision depends on the circumstances of the individual case.
§ Mr. MonroIs the hon. Member aware of the drop in the number of beef cow inseminations in dairy herds? Should not he make the beef cow subsidy regulations more flexible in relation to milking systems, such as pipelines and bulk tanks?
§ Mr. HoyThat is a different question from the one put down, which dealt with the way in which the payment was to be made. In agreement with the N.F.U., we have tried to find a fair balance between herds which produce for beef alone and other herds and even where milk is involved the hon. Member knows the ratio that we have laid down to meet the problem.