asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state the price per cwt. of a balanced ration for fattening pigs on 2nd December, 1950, and at the present time.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Balanced Ration Prices.
Having regard to the fact that the quantity of feeding stuffs which farmers purchase depends largely on the extent to which they have grown their own requirements, it would not be possible to give the Deputy the information requested in relation to rations prepared by farmers themselves.
Since the 2nd December, 1950, the average price of balanced rations produced by licensed manufacturers of compound feeding stuffs has been increased at the rate of 4/- per ton for each cwt. of maize used in the rations while a proportionate increase has also been made in respect of the increased cost of bran and pollard and other imported ingredients.
The increased costs vary as between manufacturers, depending on the cost of the ingredients they were using on 2nd December as compared with the present. In some cases the increase in price is only £1 7s. 0d. per ton while in other cases, where manufacturers were using ingredients purchased at comparatively favourable prices, the increases are considerably more.