asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state the estimated cost per lb. of producing a turkey for the market, and the average price being obtained by producers in the current year.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Turkey Production Costs.
It is not possible to give a reliable estimate of the cost per lb. of producing turkeys for the market as it is subject to wide variation, depending on such factors as: the extent to which the food for the birds is grown by the turkey producer; the age at which the birds are sold; the incidence of disease and mortality in the flock; the turkey rearing system employed; and the level of efficiency of feeding and management generally.
The prices paid to producers for turkeys also vary widely, depending on the sex, quality and weight of the individual birds, differences in the prices ruling at different local markets, and day-to-day fluctuations in market prices generally. Accordingly, in the absence of details of the numbers and weights of all turkeys sold by producers so far this season and the price paid per lb. in each case, I am unable to indicate the average price being obtained by producers in the current year.
Could the Minister give any rough indication? Could he say he was right in asking the Government to pay 6d. a lb. in addition to the 3/6 a lb. which producers were once getting for turkeys when he advocated that the costs were such that the producers should get around 4/-? Would he take steps to give them around 2/- nowadays?
I think perhaps the Deputy has not adverted to the fact that there is a question on the Order Paper which I am about to answer and which is more clearly expressed than is the Deputy's supplementary question.
What about the £8 a ton on wheat offals?