asked the Minister for Agriculture whether he can forecast the probable prices of pigs during the coming year, and whether supply and agricultural policy encourage the fattening of pigs for sale on a widespread scale.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Price of Pigs.
Owing to the many factors which have to be taken into consideration in fixing the price of pigs it would not be possible to forecast the probable prices during the coming year. As regards policy, I consider it desirable that pig production should be maintained at the highest possible level having regard to the feeding stuffs available for the purpose.
asked the Minister for Agriculture if in view of the fact that the feeding of pigs cannot be carried on at a profit so long as the bacon curers' prices for first grade finished pigs are only 112/- per cwt., dead weight, and 83/- per cwt. live weight, and feeding meals are maintained at their present high prices, he will state what steps he proposes to take to save the pig industry.
Pig producers who took steps to grow sufficient food this season should now be in a position to feed their pigs with home-grown produce and the price of feeding meals should not affect them to any extent. If the price of pigs had been related strictly to the cost of purchased meals the price charged for bacon would have put it out of the reach of a great many people, with the result that the home trade could not absorb the amount of bacon available. The export trade— which does not exist at present—would not present a solution of the difficulty owing to the low export price for our bacon. I am satisfied that a considerable number of producers—more especially small farmers—will continue to produce pigs fed on their own produce, and this steady production of pigs should preserve the industry.
Will the Minister tell us what the pig producers are going to feed or fatten pigs on?
On what they grow.
But are they in a position to keep all their corn? I grew a lot of wheat this year, but I am not allowed to buy barley to make a mixture to feed pigs. What then am I going to feed them on? Chaff, is it? The thing is ridiculous.