Captain TERRELLasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture what steps the Department is taking to stimulate the raising of calves; and whether it is possible to utilise existing machinery to distribute superfluous calves taken from dairying districts to other parts of the country where they could be reared?
Sir A. BOSCAWENWhile the Ministry is not taking any special steps to stimulate the raising of calves, the provision of bulls under the Live Stock Scheme encourages indirectly the rearing of calves, as on the information before the Ministry practically all the heifer calves, and the majority of the bull calves that are bred from subsidised sires, are reared in consequence of their higher value. The Ministry has no machinery that can be utilised for the purpose mentioned in the second part of the question, and it is to be regretted that large numbers of calves bred in dairying districts are not fit to rear owing to the fact that many dairy farmers make use of badly-bred bulls. It is hoped that when meat is decontrolled, next month, there will be greater inducement to rear calves. The Ministry will keep this matter under constant review.