asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if his attention has been drawn to the fact that many beef cows in dairy herds revert to milking as the calf is immediately sold off once the inspection for the grant in the beef cow scheme has taken place; the reason there is no second compliance inspection in this scheme; and the percentage of the 14,000 increase in the number of beef cows recorded in the December 1988 livestock enumeration which represents beef cows in dairy herds.
Written Answers. - Beef Cow Scheme.
46.
If the Deputy has any firm evidence of particular cases or of the extent of the practice she mentions, I would appreciate it if she would furnish details to me immediately in confidence to enable my Department to examine the matter before the terms and conditions to enable my Department to examine the matter before the terms and conditions of the 1989 cattle headage scheme are drawn up for my approval.
There is no second compliance inspection of beef cows in mixed enterprise herds because of staff and time shortage constraints. As regards the increase of 114,300 in beef cow numbers between December 1987 and December 1988, I would estimate that perhaps 20,000 to 25,000 of that increase is attributable to an increase in beef cow numbers in mixed enterprise herds.