§ Mr. Patrick Maitlandasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received from representatives of breeders about the definition of over shot jaws in connection with the licensing of bulls.
§ Mr. J. StuartA deputation from a number of the breed societies and other bodies concerned recently represented to my Department that too rigid a standard is being applied in rejecting bulls for licence because of over-shot jaws. I have undertaken to look at the matter again in consultation with the Licensing of Bulls Advisory Committee.
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§ Mr. Patrick Maitlandasked the Secretary of State for Scotland in what respects he has changed the definition of over-shot jaws in instructions to Department of Agriculture inspectors examining bulls for licensing.
§ Mr. J. StuartThe definition was reworded to concentrate attention on the position of the four central incisor teeth and on the relation between the cutting edges of these teeth and the dental pad.
§ Mr. Patrick Maitlandasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many bulls have been condemned by the Department of Agriculture for over-shot jaws to the last convenient date in 1954, compared with the figures for the corresponding periods of 1953 and 1952.
§ Mr. J. StuartThe number of bulls which have been refused licences because of over-shot jaws in the period 1stJune, 1953, to 31st January, 1954, is 60. The number refused licences in each of the corresponding periods in 1953 and 1952 was seven.
§ Mr. Patrick Maitlandasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is continuing the investigation of bulls with over-shot jaws as described in the 1953 Report of the Department of Agriculture for 1952; and what conclusions he has drawn from the investigation.
§ Mr. J. StuartYes. The investigations are not yet complete but the conclusions reached so far are that the defect when found in a bull at licensing age does not improve as time goes on and that it is likely to be inherited by some of its progeny.