§ Mr. Peter Millsasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is now taking to revise the declining numbers in the dairy herd in view of the fact that its size and the level of calf retentions is the main factor in the production of extra beef.
§ Mr. Mackie:We certainly want more beef from both beef and dairy herds. The Government were aware of the decline in the dairy herd, but although the March returns for England and Wales confirm a small decline in the number of dairy cows, the number of dairy heifers in calf is at the highest level for March since 1962, indicating the potential for further expansion.