asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he has noted the high level of cow slaughterings; and the action he proposes to take to rectify the situation.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cow Slaughterings.
17.
The high level of cow slaughterings this year is due mainly to the fact that in recent years, while the national herd was being built up, many cows were retained beyond the normal culling stage. Inevitably there had to be increased slaughterings at a later stage, and this is what has been happening this year. It is expected that cow slaughterings in the coming year will be at a much more normal level.
Would the Minister not agree that cow slaughterings this year are a result of their not getting the bull last year because calves were so cheap? Is this not the whole reason for the reduction in the cow population?
It is not the whole reason. It is part of the reason.
It is the principal reason because nobody cared too hoots about bringing a cow to the bull.
The total breeding herd in the country at present is quite high and at a very satisfactory level, which indicates that people have kept cows that they would not otherwise have kept because the price in 1973 was so good and in anticipation of a continuation of that price which did not materialise. Therefore, people simply got out of the older cows and they certainly got out of some of the single suckle cows.
Is the Minister telling me that the breeding herd is higher now than it was 18 months ago?
No, but I am telling the Deputy that there is no significant difference.
I am surprised at the Minister.
According to the June figures, the breeding herd was 2,249,000, and if you go back to 1973 it was 2,347,300, not a significant drop having regard to the number of old cows that were kept on to have an extra calf.
In the west of Ireland anyway the cows were sold in calf this time last year when I was appealing for support for the calves, and the man who had 15 cows then has ten now.
The Deputy is not asking a supplementary question.
If the Minister checks on the situation he will find out how low the breeding herd is.
These are recorded figures I am giving the Deputy. In any case even if farmers do decide to slaughter cows I cannot go down and sit in the kitchen with them making their decisions. Milk production has increased by 8.4 per cent up to the present and will probably be 10 per cent up on last year.
I did not ask the Minister to sit in the kitchen, but he could have given them some confidence by giving them support, when the price of cattle was at such a low ebb, so as to stop them from selling the cows.
What sort of support is the Deputy talking about?
Does the Minister not accept that they will make the right decisions if he gives them the right conditions?
I have always credited farmers with a lot of sense. However, there are times when farmers, like many other people, overreact to situations, and there has been overreaction.