FARM STATISTICS

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 258, 29 July 1939, Page 4 (Supplement)

FARM STATISTICS

Varying Dates And Procedures A farmer who makes a hobby of agricultural statistics aud returns pointed out to me that there was a lack of “tie-up” in these. The cattle year ends on January 31; the sheep year on April 30; the meat export killing year on September 30; and the local meat killings year on March 31. Inquiry upon the subject from the Government Statistician has brought advice as follows:—

Returns of cattle are collected by this department (Census and Statistics) as at January 31, as part of the annual census of agricultural and pastoral statistics. In these returns the various classes of cattle, including dairy cows in milk, are provided for. Though related to January 31, the live stock figures are collected over a perioj of two or three months commencing with February, according to the ability of the local police sub-enumerator to carry out the work in conjunction with his ordinary police duties. Returns of sheep are collected under the Stock Act by the Department of Agriculture as at April 30, returns being due by May 15. As to meat killed for export and tor local consumption, the live stock division of the Department of Agriculture obtains monthly returns from abattoirs and meatworks. To Co-ordinate. As regards the dairy returns, January 31 appears quite suitable. Then could be accurately assessed the cows in milk, the heifers in calf, and the calves reared and the bulls of various ages.

Pig returns, too, could then be satisfactorily taken. For beef cattle, however, this date provides a maximum number of the season, and that would bear little relationship to the number wintered. The figures would be overloaded with fat and fattening cattle, due to be drafted through the usually big months of February-May. Calf numbers would also be largely obtained by guesswork, as on most runs calves would not have been dealt with—branded and weaned and tallied.

Sheep returns at April 30 were formerly well placed, as the killing season for export closed during April. That no longer applies, as killing extends now right into June on a large scale. The census of sheep on April 30 does provide a fair average of our sheep numbers through the whole of a year, but gives little indication of wintered numbers. It does give, however, the numbers of our ewe flocks. But the killing year ends on September 30, which bears little or no relationship to either the cattle or sheep year ends. About the only suitable date at which all three could be brought together would be June 30. That date completes the export killing for all practical purposes and would give the actual true numbers of sheep and beef cattle wintered. All would be then brought together on a single date. This is suggested, not as.any last word on the subject, but as a proposal worthy of thought. Finally, a protest, is made at the overlong delay in publication of ewe flock numbers. Almost a month ago the sheep statistics were published, district by district and in total. In this age of mechanical calculating machines the ewe statistics should surely have been available at that same time. They are the very heart of the sheep returns, upon which all true judgments must be based.