FARM ANIMALS OF THE WORLD.

Press, Volume L, Issue 8482, 13 May 1893, Page 6

FARM ANIMALS OF THE WORLD.

In young countries the wealth of the population has always largely consisted of sheep and cattle. Sheep - breeding and cattle-raising formed practically the only source of wealth in the early days of these colonies, as it evidently did ac the dawn of civilisation in the old world. Every school-boy knows that the Latin for wealth is derived from pecus cattle; and even during the present day when the complex machinery of civilization has created wealth in a great variety of forms, the farm animals scill represent a not inconsiderable item in the sum of the world's wealth. The animal products of Australia and New Zealand form by far the largest feature in our list of exports. Out of a total export of £9,566,397 for 1892 from New Zealand, over £6,000,000 were, represented by animals and their products. If we turn to the statistics dealing with the wealth of the world, we find that cattle, &c, occupy a fair place in the list. The latest estimate gives the wealth of the world at£60,760,000,000, divided as follows :— Lands ... ... 17,058,000,000 •■* Cattle, &c. ... 5,080,000,000 Houses .., 11,259,000,000 Furniture ... 5,631,000,000 Railways ... 5,315,000,000 Ships ... ... 294,000,000 Merchandise ... 1,400,000,000 Bullion... ... 1,131,000,000 Sundries ... 13,592,000,000 £60,760,000,000 Although the value of cattle falls far short, of that of land or houses, it stands about on an equality with furniture and railways, and is nearly five times as greib as all the bullion in the world. If we turn to the distribution of farm animals, we find that Europe, notwithstanding its comparatively dense population stands at the top of the list) as regards numbers, although in the case of sheep Australasia does not come far behind. The following table, showing the position for 1892, and compiled from the latest official statistics published in February last, gives the number of cattle, horses, sheep and swine in the world on the date mentioned :—

It is interesting to note that although the capital valne of the farm animals o! the world does not reach the proportion one might have expected, this form of wealth is probably the most prodnctive. Taking the case of New Zealand, where we have, under the late property tax, accurate records of the valne of the real and personal property of the community, we find that under the assessment of 1888—-the last published--personal property waa

returned at £85,500,000, and Included therein were horses, cattle, sheep aud other live stock, whioh were set down aa worth £7,857,137. These figures are, no doubt, leas than would be the case now. But even putting the value of farm animals at £10,000,000 it is astonishing to find that the colony's export of animal products is worth over £6,000,000 annually.

Cattle Horses Sheep Swine America ... south America 58 18 51 48 Europe ... 9ksia Africa iustraiaaia 58 104 61 6 12 5.5 36.5 4 1 2 96 187 40 36 125 3 49 05 0.5 1 Total ... 299 67 102