asked the Minister for Agriculture whether his attention has been directed to the symposium on the various breeds of cattle which has appeared in a daily newspaper and whether, in view of the statements contained therein, he will make a statement of the work done and in progress by his Department to provide (a) the services of proven bulls for dairy farmers; (b) progeny-tested sows for pig-breeders; (c) pasteurised skim milk for creamery suppliers, and (d) T.B. eradication in certain parish areas.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Work of Department of Agriculture.
Mr. Walsh
I have seen the newspaper articles referred to in the first part of the question, which of course represent only the personal approach of the writers to particular aspects of this complex subject. As regards the second part of the question, I may say briefly:—
(a) In connection with the selection by my Department of bulls for dairy farmers, especially through the rapidly expanding artificial insemination service, very careful consideration is given to the ancestry of each animal and the milk yields, butter-fat tests and hereditary qualities of its immediate relatives. If "proven" bulls cannot be secured, near relatives of high-class sires and preferably bulls from dams having outstanding life-time production records are acquired.It is only now that the first heifers bred from bulls at the artificial insemination stations established by my Department are coming into production in significant numbers and, as was intended from the start, arrangements are in course of being made to ascertain their milk and butter-fat yields so as to assess the capacity of the bulls to transmit the desirable characteristics.
(b) A pig-litter-recording scheme, in which the great majority of pedigree pig breeders have been participating, has been in operation for a couple of years past and is enabling the identification of sows consistently producing large litters with a high rate of survival to the weaning stage, and possessing good mothering qualities. It was intended from the start in this case also to introduce a litter-testing scheme for assessing efficiency of food conversion and carcase quality of progeny, and steps to this end have been under consideration for some time.
I may say, therefore, that I contemplate a very considerable development of progeny testing as the basis for future breeding policy.
(c) and (d) As already announced, the proposals made to the American authorities some time ago for the use of Grant Counterpart moneys included a scheme to aid the installation of pasteurising plants for skim milk in creameries and a scheme for promoting the eradication, especially on a regional basis, of bovine tuberculosis. I am glad to say that the American authorities have accepted these proposals in principle, subject to the approval of Congress early next year. A small pilot scheme for the elimination of uneconomic cattle has been in operation in Bansha parish, County Tipperary, for the past couple of years. The Dairy Disposal Company, Ltd., has also been taking steps for some time past, at my request, for the installation of skim milk pasteurisation plants at its creamery premises in County Clare.