asked the Minister for Agriculture and food the number of cows and in-calf heifers in the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Cow Numbers.
71.
The numbers of cows and in-calf heifers in the country, as given in the December 1988 livestock enumeration carried out by the Central Statistics Office, are 1,922,000 and 293,000 respectively.
1988 saw the first increase in the breeding herd since the introduction of the milk super-levy system in 1984. The December enumeration showed a substantial increase of almost 100,000 head despite the continued decline in dairy cow numbers. Low cow and heifer slaughterings in 1989 would suggest that the increase in the breeding herd is continuing.