asked the Minister for Agriculture if he is aware that under the new arrangements in Great Britain ram lambs which are intended for sale in the autumn will be regarded as rams, and will therefore fetch 7½d. a pound less than if they had been castrated; and if he will issue notices to the county committees of agriculture so that they may understand the position and advise sheep breeders to have their ram lambs castrated.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Ram Lambs.
As announced in the Press of the 28th ultimo, the prices payable per lb. dressed carcase by the British Ministry of Food until further notice for rams fit for the retail meat trade imported from Éire are 7d. for shorn and 8d. for unshorn rams. I am aware that lambs showing male characteristics are liable to be classified as rams later in the year and paid for accordingly. As these characteristics become evident from the late summer onwards, sheep breeders would be well advised to castrate all male lambs not intended for the early lamb market or for breeding purposes. I propose, therefore, to draw the attention of breeders to the desirability of castrating ram lambs not intended for sale before the end of July and not being kept for breeding purposes.