Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Mr. Scallan mentioned that 2.4 million calves a year were born in Ireland and that 1.7 million were presented for slaughter. The reality, as the dogs on the street know, is that once the kill goes above the figure of 30,000 each week, we are in trouble. The factory can pull down one's trousers and the farmer is left with a lower price. They are the facts. Whether we like it, that is what happens. What is the potential as between calves and bigger cattle? That is what I want to know. To look again at Mr. Scallan's figures, 2.4 million calves are born and 1.7 million are slaughtered. Therefore, we are talking about a figure of 700,000 cattle.

Are we capable of pushing that up with our calves, weanlings and Friesian bullocks of over a year old? Are there markets we could utilise to keep the scales balanced in view of the number of cattle being killed in this country?