asked the Minister for Agriculture if he has available any figures of the average estimated yield of milk per cow in (a) the six occupied counties of Ireland, (b) Britain, (c) Holland, (d) Denmark, and (e) the portion of Ireland under the effective control of the Government.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Milk Yields.
I have no information at my disposal which would enable me to give figures of the average estimated yields of milk per cow to which any measure of reliance could be attached.
Am I to understand that there are no figures available to the Department for comparison purposes?
No, not of a character which could properly be represented as official. If it were possible to persuade the creamery suppliers or cow-keepers generally to engage in cow-testing, we would be able to obtain the figures.
Whether reliable or not, am I right in taking it that there are figures available to the Department?
Any figures that are available do not take into account the quantity of milk retained for consumption in the home; that may be large or small.
Are the production figures for the other areas available or obtainable by the Department?
They would not be, except on that basis of estimation.