asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries why, in view of the fact that his Department leases 25 Hereford bulls and three Aberdeen Angus, only one Friesian, one shorthorn and no Charolais are leased.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Leasing of Bulls.
28.
There is not the same need, or demand, for the leasing to breeders of Friesian, Shorthorn or Charolais bulls. The services of top quality bulls of these breeds are available through the artifical insemination service and AI bred progeny are accepted for registration by the breed societies concerned.
Would the Minister agree that there is difficulty in many cases in putting a pedigree cow in calf through artificial insemination and that natural mating in some cases is necessary? For this reason is it not necessary that the very best bulls should be used, which would not be an economic proposition in herds of these breeds which are necessarily small, and that there should be high quality proven bulls available for leasing for short periods so that breeders who are doing their best to develop strains to produce higher beef and milk yields should have a chance of putting high class cows in calf where AI has failed, by the use of high class bulls?
The Deputy is probably aware and will probably agree when I say that in the case of Charolais, the herd owners are usually the type of people who can afford to buy bulls for themselves. I think it would be difficult to sustain a case that it is necessary to assist them by leasing bulls. There is nothing to prevent Charolais herd owners from purchasing bulls of their own.
Would the Minister not agree that the size of these herds does not make it a viable proposition for their owners to buy the high class bulls necessary to produce the high class strain we need and that in such cases a proper leasing scheme, under which the Department would provide these bulls, should be available and that this should be the Department's policy?
What breeding societies do not accept AI for inclusion in the herd book and does the Minister consider their attitude wise?
The Hereford Society do not accept AI bred progeny and I think this is the case also in regard to Angus cattle.
Does the Minister think they are wise?
We cannot spend the day on these questions.
Deputy Bruton is only here a little while. I asked a supplementary question which I thought might be answered. Perhaps the Minister is getting away from it by answering Deputy Bruton.
I forgot it. If Deputies would ask questions in turn and wait for the replies, we might be able to do something about that——
That is good enough for me, if the Minister says he might be able to do something about it.
I said I might be able to do something about replying to the Deputy's question.
That is the only answer I want.
Could the Minister answer the question that I asked?
What was that?
I asked did you consider it wise.
No. I was about to say that the reason why I think the breed society that I have mentioned do not recognise AI bred stock is that they may be afraid the number of bulls of their breeds would diminish, that the market for their bulls would be affected adversely.