andMr. Leonard asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he is aware of the reduction in the demand for artificial insemination; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna-Questions. Oral Answers. - Artificial Insemination.
5.
In 1973 inseminations were the highest ever recorded. The only returns so far available for 1974 are in respect of the first quarter and they show a reduction as compared with the previous year. I should point out, however, that the number of inseminations in the first quarter of the year normally represents less than 10 per cent of the total inseminations in any year. The reduction in the first three months of this year could be due to delay in cows coming in heat because of the long winter and feed supply difficulties.
Is the Minister aware that while it is only 10 per cent it is a very important percentage of the milk production as it is the supply which is required for the winter months? The inseminations in those three months are important to those engaged in the liquid milk trade.
I appreciate that it is important for the two liquid milk areas, Dublin and Cork.
Is the Minister also aware that it is accepted that it was due to the increased cost of feed?
That seems to be a separate matter.
6.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries the number of cattle inseminated in the Dublin Milk Board area and the Cork Milk Board area from 1st January to 31st March in 1973 and in 1974.
The information requested is as follows:—
|
January- March 1973 |
January-March 1974 |
|
|
Dublin District Milk Board A.I. Area |
32,220 |
23,873 |
|
Cork District Milk Board A.I. Area |
2,021 |
1,628 |
Is the Minister aware that it is very serious and that there is likely to be a scarcity of milk in the coming winter? Is the Minister aware that the reduction of inseminations in Dublin alone represents a reduction of 9,000 cattle who would be calving in that period which would involve a loss of about 30,000 gallons a day to Dublin city? Has the Minister any comment to make on that?
I have already given some reason why inseminations in the first quarter would be less than they would be later on in the year. It may also be because everybody was advising people in the liquid milk trade that the differential between the liquid price and the price for processing was not great enough to induce them to work seven days a week. In very little over a year I increased that differential by 10.25 per gallon. That is a very substantial increase and it should now be very attractive for people to continue in winter milk production.
In the coming winter there will be a scarcity.
7.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he will subsidise the fee being charged by AI stations for inseminating cattle as the price realised on the public sale of calves this year did not cover the cost of the service.
The reply is in the negative. It is widely accepted that AI places at the disposal of every stock owner bulls of the highest quality at very reasonable cost.
Is the Minister aware that unless something is done the insemination centres will not be able to keep the high class bulls owing to the depressed price of calves? If they have not got money coming in for insemination and if it is too dear something will have to be done.
No one could describe it as being expensive by any stretch of the imagination.
The Minister seems to gloss over everything in this way.
A question, please.
I am asking the Minister to accept responsibility for seeing that the AI stations function in a satisfactory manner.
They are functioning in a satisfactory manner.
They should be able to carry on an have the best stock available for farmers.
Does the Minister not realise, and if he realises is he not prepared to admit, that the whole A.I. situation demonstrates more clearly than anything else that there is a total lack of security and of any sort of optimism in the farming community as to the future of farming and the cattle trade in particular? Will he, for heaven's sake, take note of the fact and do something about it?
The Deputy is broadening the scope of the question.
I should like to ask the Deputy what he did in similar circumstances in 1965 and 1966.
The Minister is now the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries and it is now his responsibility.
The Minister is doing everything that it is possible to do in the circumstances.
He is doing nothing.
The Minister is doing nothing and the answers he is giving are all bull.