HC Deb 30 October 1975 vol 898 cc614-5W
Mr. Wm. Ross

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what were the numbers of suckler cows and heifers being kept for suckling at the June and December census in 1972, 1973, 1974 and 1975; and what is the projection for December 1975 for Northern Ireland.

Mr. Merlyn Rees

The numbers at the June and December censuses of cows and in-calf heifers in Northern Ireland being kept mainly for producing and rearing calves for beef were as follows:

Mr. Merlyn Rees

The average gross margins for suckler cows on hill and lowland farms in the Northern Ireland Farm Management Survey were as follows:

Gross margin. £ per cow and calf to weaning
Upland Lowland
1971–72 63 61
1972–73 82 82
1973–74 64 53
1974–75 40 37

NOTE: margins in 1974–75 include two payments of beef cow or hill cow subsidy.

Figures for 1975–76 are not yet available. Estimates will be published in the January 1976 issue of "Agriculture in Northern Ireland".

It is not possible to allocate fixed costs to derive net profits from suckler cow herds.

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