asked the Minister. for Industry and Commerce if he will state how the figure for the total production of farmers' batter for last year was arrived at.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Farmers' Butter.
The latest published figure of production of farmers' butter was in respect of the year 1945. It was determined as follows:—
The total quantity of milk obtained on each farm throughout the country in one day in June or July was ascertained at the annual enumeration of the Garda Síochána. Using this information in conjunction with returns from creameries, the total production of milk in the whole county was estimated.
The quantities of milk used in the production of creamery butter, cream, cheese, condensed milk, dried milk and confectionery, were obtained from the firms concerned. Consumption of milk as such by persons in farm households and the quantity fed to live stock were estimated from information obtained at special inquiries and the consumption of milk as such by the urban population was based on statistics of sales in the Dublin and Cork districts and applied to the whole country.
The remainder of the milk, after the deduction of the foregoing items, was assumed to be used for the production of farmers' butter.