asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries why he considers that the payment for milk on its protein as well as on its butter-fat content would not be likely to offer advantages to Irish dairy farmers generally.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Milk Payments.
32.
The major proportion of the creamery milk supplies is used for butter manufacture, and for this commodity payment on the basis of fat content is most appropriate. The purchase of creamery milk on both a protein and butter-fat basis would not in itself enable creameries and the milk-processing industry generally to pay higher prices to the producers. Additional expense would, in fact, be involved in determining the protein content of individual milk supplies. I may also mention that the existing EEC target price for manufacturing milk is related to a butter-fat basis.
Am I correct in believing that protein is of considerable importance in cheese-making and in view of the big effort we are making to expaid our cheese industry, measurement on a protein content basis would be helpful?
As I said, I think, on a former occasion to the Deputy, it would certainly be of assistance but the information I have got suggests that the cost of determining the percentage of protein would make the project not worthwhile.
Question No. 33 postponed.