asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if, in view of the fact that the number of cows killed this year has been very high, he will indicate whether there is a danger that the cattle population will fall over the next few years; and the plans he has to prevent such an occurrence.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cattle Slaughterings. Cattle Population.
85.
Neither the cattle population nor the national breeding herd are expected to be permanently affected by the increase in cow slaughterings this year, which is essentially of a short-term nature arising primarily from the very low culling rates of the past two years. The normal incentives to herd expansion are still in operation and these, together with the substantial improvement in milk prices this year, and the improved outlook for beef in 1975 are expected to lead to a further expansion in our cattle population in subsequent years.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that a large number of in-calf cows are being slaughtered at present and that the slaughtering of cows this year has increased by about 130,000?
I am not aware that in-calf cows are being slaughtered. There is no information at the disposal of the Department—and we are getting an inflow daily in regard to slaughterings—that in-calf cows are being slaughtered. There again, if that assertion is made and it is well-founded, as Deputy Crinion would like to lead the House to believe, give us the particulars. This kind of generalising: "Is he aware that an in-calf cow was killed in Donegal or in Castletownbere——
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that his own inspectors have access to every factory and all they to do is look at the slaughterings?
I have information from an auctioneer that in a certain factory 60 per cent of the cows that were supposed to be slaughtered were in-calf.
86.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries the number of cows, bullocks and heifers killed in each month in 1973 and 1974.
As the reply is in the form of a tabular statement I propose, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, to circulate it with the Official Report.
Following is the statement:
Slaughterings at Beef Factories
|
Month |
Cows |
Bullocks |
Heifers |
|||
|
1973 |
1974 |
1973 |
1974 |
1973 |
1974 |
|
|
January |
16,862 |
37,622 |
21,795 |
40,362 |
3,419 |
7,302 |
|
February |
13,955 |
38,953 |
18,905 |
32,676 |
2,619 |
5,586 |
|
March |
17,349 |
30,396 |
21,291 |
31,681 |
2,304 |
3,874 |
|
April |
14,838 |
19,932 |
21,591 |
29,741 |
2,159 |
3,541 |
|
May |
17,143 |
30,297 |
26,819 |
35,516 |
2,648 |
5,213 |
|
June |
12,128 |
18,176 |
25,132 |
32,621 |
2,562 |
6,375 |
|
July |
15,757 |
28,662 |
36,712 |
36,994 |
3,978 |
8,329 |
|
August |
24,403 |
*34,900 |
44,745 |
*41,400 |
6,039 |
*10,700 |
|
September |
22,210 |
*37,700 |
36,494 |
*52,000 |
4,343 |
*10,300 |
|
October |
32,837 |
†30,400 |
38,321 |
†49,000 |
5,993 |
†8,600 |
|
November |
40,496 |
40,336 |
6,873 |
|||
|
December |
28,590 |
31,117 |
5,583 |
*Estimate. †Estimate to 19th October.
Have the slaughterings substantially increased over last year?
The slaughterings have increased since last year. The Deputy will get the information in the Official Report, and it indicates how senseless this type of questioning is in the House. Deputy Crinion and Deputy Gibbons were trying to ask a question relevant to Question 86 on Question 85. The Deputies should be a little more relevant and more helpful to the Chair.
The Parliamentary Secretary is becoming a joke.