§ Colonel Carverasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he. is aware that a large number of pregnant sows and gilts have recently been slaughtered; and, as this practice was prohibited in the Great War, whether he will arrange for feeding-stuffs to be allocated to these in preference to other stock?
Mr. HudsonI am aware that there has been an increase in the number of sows and gilts offered for slaughter and this is to be expected in view of the need to reduce the pig population in consequence of the shortage of feeding-stuffs. I have no evidence, however, of excessive offerings for slaughter of pregnant sows and gilts. In general, pig keepers must adjust their operations to accord with the supply of feeding-stuffs available to them.