asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if, in view of the fact that the latest trends in cattle prices do not bear out the assurances of his predecessor that prices were likely to rise, he will now advise the farmers to continue to hold on to their cattle for the present.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cattle and Sheep Prices.
39.
A basic reason given by my predecessor for advising farmers who could do so to hold on to their cattle was the reasonable expectation that the seasonal rise in prices which normally commences in the last few weeks of the calendar year and carries on into the late spring will take place during the coming months. I see no grounds for departing from this view.
I note from a recent statement by the British Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food that the normal seasonal recovery in prices is expected in Britain also in the weeks leading up to Christmas.
Is the Minister aware that, since his predecessor gave this advice, there has been a steady decline, particularly in the price of store cattle? Is he now endorsing the view of his predecessor and advising farmers to hold on to their cattle until December, January and February? If he is giving that advice, is he not aware of the difficulty in holding cattle at this time of the year when fodder and feedingstuffs are so scarce?
What should be restated here is that this advice was given conditionally: where it was possible for them to do so, farmers were advised to hold on.
Will the Minister not agree that his statement here today will lead the farmers to believe that prices will increase? I hope he is not doing this for the two by-elections; this is too serious a matter. The Minister now, by virtue of his office, is a more important man and his voice will be heard, by some people at any rate, and does the Minister think it is good policy for farmers to hold on to cattle for a few months and that prices are likely to increase?
What I have said in the reply is that in regard to that advice, conditioned as it was at the time it was given, I see no grounds for departing from the views expressed.
Is it not a fact that it is now costing us £7 a head to sell forward stores in Britain and that that is going to end at the end of this month? Surely that must have an adverse effect, rather than be an improvement?
It may or may not. In fact, I am glad the Deputy goes on record as saying that £7 is in fact £7 because what we have been told here for the past six or ten weeks was that this particular headage payment was of no account; it either is or is not.
40.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he is aware of a further serious fall in cattle and sheep prices at fairs and marts in the west of Ireland; if his attention has been drawn to a statement made by the Stormont Minister for Agriculture that the percentage drop in the price of cattle would be greater this year; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Cattle prices in the west of Ireland, as in the rest of the country, have reflected the weak export market situation for cattle and beef during recent months as well as the normal seasonal decline in prices at this time of year. There is a reasonable expectation that over the coming months there should be the usual seasonal upturn in cattle prices generally.
I have seen a statement made by the Six Counties Minister for Agriculture earlier this month that, unless there is a radical change between now and March next, the percentage drop in livestock prices in the Six Counties in the current fatstock year, which began on 28th March last, would be greater than in the previous fatstock year.
The market for sheep and lambs during some months past was also affected by conditions on export markets for cattle and beef, and by the normal seasonal price trend, but sheep and lamb prices generally have recently been increasing.
is the Minister not aware that store cattle at fairs or marts at the present time are almost unsaleable? They are being offered for £10 and £12.
I think it was mentioned in this House here, during the protracted debate over the past week or two, that sheep were being sold at 5/- and stores were being sold for £4 10s or some such figure. There are places known as Knackers' yards where you pay for taking away animals who have died or who are about to die— if that is what the Deputy is talking about.