asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries (a) the quantity of guar meal that has been imported for compound feeds during 1973 and (b) if he is satisfied with the quality of guar meal as an animal food.

Separate statistics are not kept in respect of imports of guar meal as the quantity involved is comparatively small.

Limited experimental work which has been carried out with this material indicates that it is suitable for inclusion in rations for adult cattle up to a level of 20 per cent.

Could the Minister tell us what it is?

It is something new to me.

I never heard of it.

It is a residue from a legume from which an industrial gum has been extracted.

12.

asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he is satisfied with the use of urea in animal foods by compounders; and if he considers the use of such rations is always safe at farm level.

There is no objection from a nutritional aspect to the use of limited quantities of urea in compound feeds for adult ruminants. As regards the second part of the question, provided the purchasers follow the instructions of the manufacturers, as supplied with each consignment, that foods containing urea should not be fed to calves under three months, to pigs or to poultry, I am advised that the use of such feed is safe at farm level.

Has urea not been used in compounds for quite some time in this country?

It has, yes.