HC Deb 20 November 1941 vol 376 c496W
Sir I. Fraser

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will consider granting more feeding stuffs to upland grass or fell farmers who have little or no land suitable for growing corn and who sell little or no milk and who, accordingly, meet with great difficulties at the present time in rearing their stock?

Mr. Hudson

Generally speaking, the scheme for the rationing of feeding stuffs is based on the principle that farmers should keep only such livestock as they can maintain from the produce of their farms. Rations are allowed only for milch cows, on the basis of milk or milk products sold, and in certain cases for poultry and pigs. It is recognised, however, that there is a special problem on upland grass farms where the rearing of dairy heifers for sale in the spring is an important part of the farming enterprise, and I propose to consider, in the light of the supply position then prevailing, the possibility of rations for heifers when they near calving in the spring.