Billy Timmins
Ceist:318 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the definition of a hogget; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1967/02]
Written Answers. - Definition of Hogget.
Various descriptions exist for the term "hogget". The most classic definition-description of a hogget is a "yearling sheep". In practice, to verify the age of an animal presented as a hogget, the dentition of the animal is normally used, that is, the first pair of permanent incisor teeth have erupted. Eruption of the first pair of permanent teeth in sheep occurs at approximately one to one and a half years of age.
For the purpose of the sheep headage scheme in 2000, he last year where sheep headage applied, a hogget ewe was described as a "female sheep born in 1999". In practice, and for the scheme purposes, this meant a female sheep born in the main 1999 lambing season, January to May inclusive.
For the purpose of the depopulation of scrapie infected flocks which were restricted from October 2001, my Department has agreed that for flocks slaughtered in 2002, female lambs born in the spring of 2001 will be regarded as hogget ewes for the purposes of valuation.