§ Mr. Beithasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will consider alternatives to ear punching as a means of identification of calves for subsidy; and whether he considers it necessary for a record of punching to take place immediately before slaughter.
§ Mr. BishopIt is essential, to protect public funds, to have a method of permanently identifying calves on which subsidy has been paid. Piercing ears is generally regarded as the most humane practical method of permanent marking for this purpose and was chosen after testing others. It has already been announced that this subsidy will be phased out and will not be paid on calves born after the end of April 1977. No records of ear punching are necessary since the punch hole is a permanent identification mark.