asked the Minister for Supplies if he will state, in respect of mid-February, 1939, 1940, 1941, 1942, 1943 and 1444, (1) the live-weight price of (a) fat cattle and (b) fat sheep on the Dublin market; (2) the retail price in Dublin of (a) sirloin steak, (b) rib beef, and (c) leg mutton; and (3) the margin of profit per lb., actual or assumed, realised by the retailers on their transactions in (a) sirloin of steak, (b) rib beef, and (c) leg mutton.
Written Answers. - Meat Prices in Dublin.
The average live-weight prices of fat cattle and fat sheep in the Dublin market at mid-February in the years 1939, 1940, 1942, 1943 and 1944 were as follows:—
|
Fat Cattle(per cwt.) |
Fat Sheep(per cwt.) |
|
|
1939 |
37/3 |
37/6 |
|
1940 |
48/- |
51/9 |
|
1942 |
51/9 |
63/3 |
|
1943 |
60/- |
86/9 |
|
1944 |
62/6 |
97/6 |
Owing to the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease no market was held in Dublin between February 6th and July 11th, 1941. The average live-weight prices of fat cattle and fat sheep at the market held on 6th February, 1941, were 50/9 and 60/3 per hundredweight respectively.
There is no standard price for the different cuts of beef and mutton, but the average retail prices of sirloin steak, rib beef and leg mutton of prime quality in mid-February, 1939, were approximately 1/4, 1/- and 1/3 per lb. respectively.
In mid-February in each of the years 1940 to 1944 inclusive the maximum retail prices of prime quality of these cuts, as agreed with the Dublin Master Victuallers' Association, were as follows:—
|
Mid-February |
Sirloin Steak |
Rib Beef |
Leg Mutton |
|
1940 |
1/6 |
1/2 |
1/4 |
|
1941 |
1/8 |
1/3 |
1/4 |
|
1942 |
1/10 |
1/5 |
1/7 |
|
1943 |
1/10 |
1/5 |
1/10 |
|
1944 |
2/- |
1/6 |
2/- |
It is not practicable to state the margin of profit either actual or assumed on any particular cut of beef or mutton. The cost of the animal as a whole must first be taken into account and the selling price of the various cuts then determined so as to give a reasonable margin of profit on the carcase as a whole.