asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if his attention has been drawn to problems arising in ram lambs from magnesium levels in certain ewe and lamb nuts; the monitoring which is done in such areas; and the regulations which control mineral and trace elements in ingredients in compounds.
Written Answers. - Magnesium Levels.
60.
I am aware that an imbalance of mineral elements including magnesium in feedingstuffs can give rise to urinary calculi in ram lambs. This problem was highlighted some years ago when it became the practice to feed lambs indoor. The problem and its causes are now well known, and can be avoided with proper management.
Under the European Communities (Marketing of Feedingstuffs) Regulations, 1984, the only major mineral element which must be declared on feedingstuffs labels is magnesium, where the level of this element exceeds 0.4 per cent. The European Communities (Feedingstuffs) (Additives) Regulations, 1974 to 1987, specify permitted levels for trace elements.
Ongoing sampling and analysis of all feedingstuffs are carried out by my Department to ensure compliance with the above mentioned regulations.