asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state whether any recent experiments have been carried out with a view to ascertaining the most economic food ration for pigs, or if any investigation has been made into the costs of producing pigs; and, if so, with what result in each case.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Pig Production.
Many experiments have been carried out at the Department's farms and elsewhere throughout the country with a view to ascertaining the efficiency and relative nutritional value of various foods (including many home-grown commodities), the results of which have been published in the Department's official journal and in the leaflets. The most economic ration for pigs (and this is the main factor in the cost of production) is, of course, dependent on the relative prices at which the constituents of the ration can be produced or purchased.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that the last costing investigation into pig production was carried out in 1908 or 1909?
I think more recent experiments have been conducted.
asked the Minister for Agriculture if he is in a position to indicate the price pig producers may expect for pigs of 14 stone and under during the next 12 months and the price pig feeders will have to pay for maize meal during the same period.
I expect pig producers to get 190/- cwt. for pigs in the category mentioned, but the degree of certainty with which pig producers can anticipate this is largely dependent on discussions which I hope will take place with the British Ministry of Food in the early future.
Feeders will pay whatever may be the world price for maize, a matter which will be profoundly affected by the appearance of the maize crop in Texas next June and Illinois next September and in view of this incalculable element in the situation feeders are strongly urged to make their position secure by planting the maximum acreage possible of Ymer barley, potatoes and oats, a sufficiency of which would make us independent of maize or any other imported cereal food.
Is it not a fact that our agricultural community are now, thanks to the trade agreement with Great Britain, dependent upon the will and policy of the British Ministry of Food?
As the Deputy is aware, maize has to be purchased abroad.
Thanks to Mr. Dillon.
Whether this Government or its predecessor is responsible, the fact is that we must buy maize abroad. The only difference is that we are now getting maize. When the Fianna Fáil Government were in, we did not.
And we have the pigs.