§ Mr. Wm. Rossasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the current annual value of the pig industry in Northern Ireland; and how many people are employed in it.
362W
§ Mr. Giles ShawFor the calendar year 1979 the value of gross output of pigs ex-farm is estimated at £69 million. On-farm employment associated with pig enterprises is estimated at 2,400 while a further 3,000 are estimated to be employed on slaughtering, curing, processing and in the manufacture of pig feeds. No information is available on the value of output of the off-farm sector of the industry.
§ Mr. Wm. Rossasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what are the estimated gross and net margins for a bacon pig in Northern Ireland in the 1979–80 financial year;
(2) what is the current cost of producing a bacon pig in Northern Ireland.
§ Mr. Giles ShawThe estimated gross margin per bacon pig in Northern Ireland in the financial year 1979–80 by producers fattening purchased weaners was £3.70 per pig. It is not possible to allocate farm fixed costs—for paid labour, machinery, buildings, and so on—to the pig enterprise in order to derive net margins per bacon pig. The current cost of feed and other variable inputs including the purchased weaner in producing a bacon pig in Northern Ireland is estimated at £51.70 per pig.
§ Mr. Wm. Rossasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what are the gross and net margins for a breeding sow in Northern Ireland in the 1979–80 financial year.
§ Mr. Giles ShawThe estimated gross margin for a breeding sow in Northern Ireland in the 1979–80 financial year was £80, where weaners were sold at 40kg. It is not possible to allocate farm fixed costs—for paid labour, machinery and buildings, and so on—to the pig breeding enterprise in order to derive net margins per breeding sow.
§ Mr. Wm. Rossasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is his estimate of the gross fixed capital employed in providing a fattening unit for 250 pigs in Northern Ireland at 1979 prices.
§ Mr. Giles ShawDepending on the type of housing and how it is equipped the cost of housing 250 fattening pigs would be from £12,000 to £18,000 at 1979 prices.
363W
§ Mr. Wm. Rossasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the average producer selling price for a bacon pig in Northern Ireland in the 1979–80 financial year; and what is the present price.
§ Mr. Giles ShawThe average producer selling price, including meat industry employment scheme and all Pigs Marketing Board bonuses, for a bacon pig in Northern Ireland in the 1979–80 financial year was £55.30 per pig. The current price is £55.25 per pig.