VISCOUNT STONEHAVENasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether, since they are now examining the cost effectiveness of agricultural support, they will cause suppliers of compound animal foods to state the starch equivalent and digestible crude protein contained in each of their products, in order to facilitate unit price comparisons and to standardise on the terms used in H.M.S.O. Bulletin 48 and by all animal nutrition advisers.
EARL ST. ALDWYNIt would not be practicable to require suppliers of compound animal foods to state the starch equivalent and digestible crude protein in each of their products. Although typical figures are available for the raw materials that form the separate ingredients of the compound feed, the starch equivalents and digestible crude protein of the compound can only be accurately determined by actually feeding it to animals and then carrying out detailed biological tests. Information is however given of the amounts of oil, protein and fibre in the feed which are useful indications of its value.
Consideration is being given to reissuing tables in Bulletin 48 in the light of long-term research on feeding values that is at present being undertaken.