asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is aware of the deficiency in magnesium in many areas, and of the increasing incidence of hypomagnesaema; and what steps he is taking to ensure that farmers in the districts where such deficiency obtains are fully advised of the need, and that adequate supplies of magnesium limestone are readily available to them.

Some of our pastures are deficient in certain mineral elements. The incidence of hypomagnesaemia has increased since the war, but this disease is thought to be due not only to a simple dietary deficiency but also to a physiological dysfunction in the animal.Preventive measures are set out in Animal Health Leaflet 49 and so far as I know the substances required are readily available.