THE ATLANTIC LIVE CATTLE TRADE.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 9365, 14 March 1896, Page 7

THE ATLANTIC LIVE CATTLE TRADE.

The improvements in the arrangements made for the protection of animals during the voyage across the Atlantic are said by Mr Tennant, Principal of the Animals Division of the Board of Agriculture, to have fairly kept pace with the increase of the trade. During the early days the losses, owing to tempestuous weather, bad ventilation, and other causes, were often of a very serious character, and in some cases resulted in the destruction of the entire living cargo. As experience was gained, however, an improvement took place, and since the year 1889, when the losses among cattle amoitnted to no less than twenty-one of every thousand that were embarked, there has been a steady decrease in the mortality among this class of animals, until, in 1893, it was reduced to three per thousand, and during the year 1894 to five per thousand. Sheep are at all times bad travellers wht>n compared with cattle, the losses among them during a loDg journey being almost always large, and duriug the five years in question the average losses amounted to twency-eigfit per thousand.' Notwithstanding the fact, however, that the importation during 1894 increased nearly eight-fold, and leaped up to upwards of 400,000, the losses dnring the past year only amounted to seventeen per thousand.