asked the Minister for Agriculture the particular action taken by him or his officials to ensure that animal compound feeding stuffs are of pure quality.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Quality of Animal Feeding Stuffs.
10.
Compound feeding stuffs may be manufactured for sale only under and in accordance with licences issued by the Minister for Agriculture. In addition, there is prohibition of the inclusion in compound feeding stuffs of specified ingredients of little or no feeding value.
Visits are paid by officers of the Department to the premises of licensed manufacturers of compound feeding stuffs for the purpose of taking samples of compound feeding stuffs and ingredients therefor. Samples of compound feeding stuffs are also taken at the premises of retailers.
The samples are analysed with a view to ensuring that they are of suitable quality and in conformity with statutory requirements, where applicable.
Am I to take it that this relates to the protein content and other contents or is the purity of the product also concerned?
It relates to the content of protein, carbohydrates and fats and also to the fibre content and to the purity of the product.
Is the Minister aware that the Agricultural Institute and An Foras Talúntais have found compounds on sale in this country of which only 30 per cent was usable by the pig, and that a mixture of 90 per cent barley and 10 per cent soya bean meal is 70 per cent usable by the pig? Is there any control at all?
That is a six marker.