Catalogue description Records of Poultry, Eggs and Small Livestock

Poultry and Small Livestock Divisions

Before the Second World War, the functions of the Ministry in relation to small livestock (goats, rabbits, hares and small fur-bearing animals such as mink and chinchilla) and poultry (including ducks, geese and game birds as well as chickens) were performed by a Small Livestock Section attached to the Education Division, reflecting the small scale of the production units involved before the introduction of intensive rearing systems. These functions included the promotion of schemes for the encouragement of the keeping of small livestock and questions concerning the National Poultry Institute and the Poultry Advisory Committee. During and after the war this work and also the administration of feeding stuffs rationing schemes for domestic poultry and rabbit keepers or clubs was performed by a Poultry Branch which was attached to various divisions, including Supplies I and Horticulture.

In 1955 the Eggs and Poultry Division of the Ministry of Food was transferred to the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries upon the amalgamation of the two ministries, and all policy matters relating to poultry and small livestock were absorbed into that division. Divisional responsibility for these areas of operation in the Ministry passed to the Eggs, Poultry and Potatoes Division in 1958, and thence to the Economic Advice, Marketing and Eggs (1963-1965), Home Grown Cereals, Eggs and Poultry (1965-1970), Eggs and Poultry (1970-1972), Eggs, Poultry and Potatoes (1972-1974), Pig and Poultry Products (1974-1984) and Pigs, Eggs and Poultry (1984 to date) Divisions.

The main concern of the Ministry since amalgamation has been the fulfilment of the guarantee to egg producers, at first through the British Egg Marketing Board (established 1956) then through the Eggs Authority, established under the Agriculture Act 1970 in response to the report of the Reorganisation Commission for Eggs published in 1968. The Eggs Authority itself was abolished in 1986, since which time egg producers have been represented by the British Egg Industry Council.

The division exercises general supervision over the production, import and marketing of poultry, eggs and egg products and small livestock, and since the mid 1980s over some of the more exotic animals which farmers in Britain have started to keep, including deer, ostrich and snails. The division has also been responsible for Ministry sponsorship of the Meat and Livestock Commission since 1992.