asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will give an estimate of the cost of calf deaths to the economy for the year 1977; and if his Department has any plans to reduce the mortality rate.
Ceisteanna—Questions . Oral Answers . - Calf Deaths .
22.
: On the basis of limited surveys carried out, it has been estimated that calf deaths in 1977 represented a loss of roughly £8 million to the economy. This loss could be substantially reduced by improved standards of calf husbandry and my Department with the co-operation of the advisory services, the Agricultural Institute and other interests will continue their efforts to bring about such improvement. In doing so, emphasis is laid on the importance of proper housing, nutrition, hygiene, and so on and particularly the need for close attention to the feeding of the calf during the first ten days of life when the intake of beestings from the dam is a vital factor in building up disease resistance.
: Is the Minister aware that a recent report suggested that the cost of calf mortality was much higher and was in the region of £40 million, or 10 per cent of the calves born in 1977, and that 50 per cent of those deaths were caused because the right bull was not mated with the right cow? Would the Minister initiate an advisory programme through the AI stations to reduce this problem?
: I agree that the situation in regard to calf and lamb mortality is intolerable, having regard to present-day prices for livestock. The Deputy will recognise that in a large measure it is a question of the quality of the stockman's husbandry. The Department will be ready to listen to any constructive advice as to how this problem could be tackled. It must be faced that in the long run it is the business of the farmer to see that his stockmanship is of a sufficiently high standard. I am afraid that in some cases it is not, because if it were the mortality rate would not be as bad as it is. Undoubtedly it is at an intolerable level.