asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries the quantity of milk delivered to creameries in 1973 and 1974; and if the downward trend has been halted.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Milk Production.
125.
The quantity was 600 million gallons in 1973 and 573.5 million gallons in 1974.
Last year's downward trend was halted by the end of the year; the milk intake in the first three weeks of 1975 shows an increase of 7.1 per cent over last year.
The Parliamentary Secretary did not give us an indication of what caused the increase.
Possibly the mild weather would be a contributing factor. The difficult weather last year was responsible to some extent for a reduction. We have had an exceptionally mild winter and I am sure it is a contributing factor with the campaign launched by An Bord Bainne to get more milk produced. It is a combination of factors.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary not agree that with the number of cows lost and the drop in inseminations the indications are that we might not have the increase that the Parliamentary Secretary is claiming?
No, the position is quite satisfactory.