asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries his proposals for the substantial increase of milk output per cow per lactation, in view of the recent figures released by Bord Bainne.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Milk Output.
8.
My advice to dairy farmers is to concentrate on better feeding and earlier calving in their herds so that they can get maximum benefit from the measures already in operation which include progeny testing of AI bulls for yield and quality of milk; milk recording; and the importation of high class breeding stock and semen, and to pay more attention to the eradication of mastitis.
Would the Minister agree that the Bord Bainne report showed that we have the lowest output per cow of any dairy country? This is a serious situation which will need to be remedied as quickly as possible if we are to take our place with other milk producing countries.
I appreciate that it is extremely important to increase yields. Most of this is in the hands of the dairy farmer himself. Until he improves his standards, he will not get increases in milk production. He has all the necessary means to increase his production, but they are not being fully utilised.
Does the Minister agree that this is not happening at present?
I agree, but what am I to do? Does the Deputy expect me to milk the cows for them, feed them and——
Deputy J. Gibbons.
(Interruptions.)
I want——
I have called another Deputy.
I want to protest. This is a very serious matter and it should not be handled in a flippant manner by the Minister.
I have called Deputy J. Gibbons.
I want to be reasonable about this. A great deal depends on the farmer and how he manages his business——
(Interruptions.)
I am calling Deputy J. Gibbons.
Having regard to the Minister's very obvious remarks about nutrition and breeding, would he not agree that the incentive to any dairy farmer to use good quality bulls for the insemination of his cows has almost gone completely when the price of calves can be as low as 50p each?
The Deputy is introducing another matter.
Deputy Gibbons never fails to draw attention to the unfortunate aspect of things.
In his reply the Minister referred to the importation of new breeding stock. Will his Department take steps to facilitate the increased importation of better breeding stocks?
I am not aware of any opposition to the importation of better breeding stocks.
There are tremendous delays.
The delay is mainly due to lack of quarantine space. I hope to make arrangements soon to increase substantially quarantine space. I am very anxious to increase the importation of good quality cattle.
Would the Minister answer my question: why would it be profitable for a farmer to use an expensive insemination when the result, a calf, could be bought for 50p?
That is a separate matter.
Farmers have never enjoyed the milk prices they are presently getting nor have they ever got better prices for beef.
Surely in the determination of the income of dairy farmers the price made by calves——
The Deputy has already posed that question.
Three years ago calves were making £70 and now they are making 70p.
We never proposed to slaughter calves.
What the Minister is doing is nearly as bad.
Is the Minister aware that this year milk yields have dropped by about 40 to 50 per cent.
Is the Deputy aware that production has increased by 10 per cent?
It has dropped sharply.
Question No 9.
We will see at the end of the year whether what the Minister has said is true.
There was a 10 per cent increase at the end of May.