HC Deb 04 December 1951 vol 494 cc248-9W
Mr. Peter Freeman

asked the Minister of Agriculture what is the total supply of feedingstuffs provided for each variety of animals and, of this, how much is imported and how much produced in this country.

Sir T. Dugdale

In the year ended 30th September, 1951, the coupons for animal feedingstuffs issued under the rationing scheme for Great Britain were allocated to the following classes of livestock:

000 tons
Dairy Cows 1,190
Calves 481
Pigs and Poultry 2,963
Horses (farm and urban) 135
Discretionary issues by county agricultural executive committees (for all classes of livestock, including the above) and miscellaneous 353

Of the supplies approximately 57 per cent. was imported as such. 28 per cent. was produced at home from imported supplies of grain and oilseeds. 15 per cent. was home grown or produced from indigenous material.

Mr. Peter Freeman

asked the Minister of Agriculture what advice he has been given by his veterinary advisers on the amount of feedingstuffs required per head each year for a pig, a sheep and a cow.

Sir T. Dugdale

An animal's requirements of feedingstuffs depend on its age, the purpose for which it is kept, the type and quality of feedingstuff and many other factors. In the Department's bulletin No. 48 "Rations for Livestock," a copy of which I am placing in the Library of the House, a well-known authority on animal nutrition deals with this problem comprehensively and the hon. Member will find tables of the composition of various feedingstuffs and typical rations for breeding and fattening pigs, sheep and cattle.