asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the total number of cows in the national dairy herd in 1985, 1986 and 1987; and if current trends indicate sufficient supply of animals to meet the requirements of the meat industry in the future.
Written Answers. - National Dairy Herd.
95.
The number of dairy cows in the national herd in the years mentioned was as follows:
|
Number (000) |
|
|
June, 1985 |
1,632.6 |
|
June, 1986 |
1,582.4 |
|
June, 1987 |
1,526.8 |
The supply of animals for the meat industry in the future will be determined by a range of factors including the volume of live cattle exported and the international market situation for beef as well as by producers' decisions on maintaining their breeding herds and their response to measures to encourage herd expansion which are currently under discussion with the various interests concerned.