asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he will ensure that pedigree stock rams leased to flock owners by his Department are placed with smaller flock owners only.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Pedigree Stock Rams.
5.
Rams are leased by my Department to suitable breeders with pedigree flocks and it is a requirement of the leasing that the rams be made available for the service of ewes in other flocks. While many rams are located in smaller flocks, I would be reluctant to exclude the larger flocks, particularly those where there is a good selection of breeding ewes. Ewe management is satisfactory and facilities are provided for flock recording and progeny testing.
The Parliamentary Secretary must agree that there appears to be some positive decision in his Department to specifically exclude the smaller flock owners. There appears to be a preference towards the bigger ones but what we are trying to extract from the Minister is that more consideration be given to the smaller flock owners who are qualified under the scheme as owners of breeding ewes of a pedigree standard.
An indication of the size range of pedigree flocks in which Suffolk rams are located at present is as follows: From 15 to 25 ewes, ten; from 25 to 35 ewes, four; from 35 to 45, four; from 45 to 55, three and over 55 only four. The Deputy will see, therefore, that the smaller flocks are faring better than the larger ones.
In numbers. It would appear so from statistics but a lot of farmers are left out.
But the number of rams available is relatively small.
That is another factor.