asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he expects a decrease in the national breeding herd in the current year.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - National Breeding Herd.
9.
I presume the Deputy is referring to the cattle breeding herd. The June, 1973, enumeration shows a substantial increase in the number of cows and incalf heifers in the country and I expect this trend will be continued in 1974.
Would the Minister be in a position to say whether or not there has been a substantial increase in the number of cows being slaughtered in recent months?
There has been an increase in the number of cows being slaughtered over the number being slaughtered this time last year. That was expected, I think, because we all knew that people were holding on to cows for an extra year to take advantage of Common Market membership, expecting enormous prices for cows. But, even as late as December, there was a very substantial increase in the number of cows over December, 1972. I did not want to give these figures because they are not confirmed.