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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 30 Jul 1953

Vol. 141 No. 7

Ceisteanna—Questions Oral Answers. - Litter Testing of Pigs.

asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will make a statement on the extent to which litter testing of pigs is proceeding under the direction of his Department in order to correct the popular impression that no work of this character is being done in Ireland.

Mr. Walsh

Litter recording of pigs is being carried out by over 80 per cent. of pedigree pig breeders in the country under a scheme introduced by my Department a few years ago. The object of the scheme is to identify strains of high productivity, good maternal qualities and rapid growth rate to weaning stage. It is therefore clear that very useful work is being carried out in this field and I do not see how there can be an impression that nothing is being done.

I entirely agree with the Minister in failing to understand how there can be the impression that nothing is being done. Perhaps the Minister's attention has been drawnto articles in the agricultural Press implying that this country compares unfavourably with Denmark and certain Scandinavian countries in that no litter testing is going on in this country, and, in view of this, would the Minister consider instructing the officers in his Department, in appropriate cases, where publicity is given to that misapprehension, to have a suitable communication addressed to them, pointing out that the work being done under our Department of Agriculture compares very favourably with what is done in Denmark or any other Scandinavian country?

Mr. Walsh

Yes.

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