asked the Minister for Agriculture whether he is aware that bacon factories and bacon curers are paying different prices on each separate day of the week for the same grades and weights of pigs delivered at the factories and purchased at open fairs and markets, and, if so, if he will make a statement in the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Bacon Pig Prices.
I am not aware that the prices paid for pigs delivered to bacon factories change from day to day. Usually the prices paid are reviewed weekly and in most cases the prices fixed at the beginning of each week are maintained throughout the week. The prices paid for pigs at fairs and markets are liable to fluctuation in the same way as the prices of other live-stock thereat. Because of the relative costs involved, pigs delivered to bacon factories are ordinarily purchased at somewhat higher prices than pigs sold at fairs and markets.
The purchase of pigs by bacon curers, pork exporters and local pork butchers is of course on a freely competitive basis and the prices paid reflect the current supply and demand situation in both the pig trade and the pork and bacon trades.