§ Mr. Pounderasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the results of the beef production experiment of crossbreeding Charollais bulls with domestic herds.
§ Mr. SoamesThe results of the first cross-breeding trials in England and Wales, in which the progeny of dairy cattle sired by Charollais bulls were compared with those sired by bulls of a number of other breeds and with pure Friesian cattle, under intensive rearing systems, show advantages to the Charollais bulls in food conversion and in killing out percentages. In liveweight gain and in carcase grading there were again advantages to the Charollais in most cases. In liveweight gain, however, they shared this advantage with pure Friesians, and the carcases of Hereford crosses graded slightly better than Charollais crosses. Details will be published in an early issue of the Ministry's journal "Agriculture". These results will be studied along with the results of other trials, including some on more extensive systems of husbandry, and involving further breeds. In the light of these, and of the information about the experience of farmers in the calving and rearing of Charollais cross cattle, the Secretary of State for Scotland and I will be considering whether or not the Charollais breed should be established in this country.