asked the Minister for Agriculture if it is a fact that a considerable number of heifers exported recently have been found to be in calf; and, if so, whether his Department have taken any action in the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Exports of In-Calf Heifers.
49.
Some complaints were received in my Department earlier this year about store heifers exported to Britain which proved to be in calf. On 30th April last a Press Release was issued by my Department urging farmers who rear heifers for the store trade to take suitable precautions to ensure that such animals sold as stores are not in calf. At the same time the Department wrote to committees of agriculture, as well as to the two principal farmers' organisations and to the trade association concerned, asking for their co-operation in impressing on farmers the necessity for taking suitable precautions against such occurrences.