HC Deb 17 March 1952 vol 497 cc182-3W
Mr. Woodburn

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many instances of large scale outwintering of cattle there are in the Highlands; whether he can state the success or otherwise of the experiments; and how far he considers any large extension of the practice feasible or economic.

Mr. J. Stuart

Cattle rearing enterprises in the Highlands have not been surveyed or classified into size groups, and there has been no investigation into the economics of these private ventures. A number are known to my Department, and many of them appear to be doing well.

Some further development on these lines may be possible, depending on the availability of suitable land and winter-keep. These aspects, together with the whole question of inducing farmers, large and small, in the Highlands to carry as many more cattle as is possible, are under active investigation by the Hill Lands (North of Scotland) Commission.