§ Mr. William Rossasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will make a statement on the breeding of a white fleshed pheasant at Loughry agricultural college reared for the market by the same general methods as for the production of broiler chickens.
§ Mr. Adam ButlerPart of the development at Loughry college of agriculture and food technology involves breeding pheasants. The main objective of the work is to produce a meat-type bird capable of being reared under intensive conditions and sold in the frozen oven-ready form. Currently a breeding programme to increase individual bird weight, and using a white plumed strain, is under way.