§ 93. Mr. Buchanan-Smithasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the number of calf slaughterings in each of the first three quarters of 1968; and how this compares with the same quarters of 1966 and 1967.
§ Mr. HoyThe figures are as follows:
1966 1967 1968 January-March 130,733 173,212 140,745 April-June 86,170 115,008 92,214 July-September 125,437 163,738 111,637 (provisional)
§ 94. Mr. Buchanan-Smithasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the number of calves retained for breeding and fattening purposes in each of the first three quarters of 1968; and how this compares with the same quarter of 1966 and 1967.
§ Mr. HoyI regret that I cannot supply these figures because we do not think it would be justifiable or useful to require farmers to provide returns showing how many calves they retain for breeding and rearing each quarter. There is a vigorous trade in young calves and in many cases the breeder would not know the use for which an animal had been bought from him. It has been sufficient for our purposes to know the numbers of calf slaughterings each quarter (which have been supplied separately to the hon. Member) together with the numbers of older cattle actually on farms at the time of the half yearly census in December and June.