asked the Minister for Agriculture whether, in view of the fact that the recent flour extraction order will operate to reduce the quantity of offals for animal feeding, he will now take effective steps to arrange that sufficient supplies of bran and pollard will be available at a reasonable price for live stock and poultry producers.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Supplies of Bran and Pollard.
As there is no present prospect of importing wheaten offals, the only supplies of bran and pollard that will be available for feeding to live stock and poultry are those produced in the country. No increase is contemplated in the prices at present being charged.
Is the Minister aware that certain big firms are getting a big percentage of the pollard and bran and mixing some other materials with it and calling it pig meal? I am sure the Minister knows that in order to encourage pig breeding supplies of bran and pollard are required. For young pigs there is no alternative ration to bran and pollard. I expect the Minister knows that last year about 75 per cent. of the young turkeys in County Wexford died for want of a proper mixture with which to feed them.