§ Mr. Gordon PrenticeTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the increase in body weight over any given period of time of(a) pigs and (b) poultry fed a diet which includes antibiotics as growth promoters when compared with the same types of animals fed a diet which excludes such growth promoters. [46981]
§ Mr. RookerThe Department does not hold this information. Figures from the National Office of Animal Health Ltd. which represents manufacturers of feed additives authorised as growth promoters indicate that dietary enhancers improve feed conversion efficiency of farm livestock by between 3 and 6 per cent. and increase daily liveweight gains by 5 per cent. to 8 per cent., according to species.