THE HEALTH OF MARLBOROUGH STOCK.

Marlborough Express, Volume XXXIX, Issue 133, 8 June 1906, Page 3

THE HEALTH OF MARLBOROUGH STOCK.

... COMPARATIVE^ STATISTICS. The assertion which has so often been made since it was first uttered by Mr J. A. Gilruth, Chief Veterinarian, at the opening of the Blenheim Abattoir some three years ago—that Marlborough live stock enjoyed better health than that of any other province in the Colony-is borne out to some extent'by some statistics which the courtesy of various officials made available. From the Blenlieim Abattoir re- ■ turns, as presented to the Borough Council monthly, has been derived the following table showing the total-num-ber of animals slaughtered at Riverlands for. the year ending 31st March, 1906, with the number and percentage of those condemned:— BLENHEIM ABATTOIR. Killed. Cond. Per Cent. Cattle ... 752 3 0.4 SST,::: 8 0.17 j SST.::: ffi j j Total ... 7649 15 0.19 A comparison with the statistics for thf same period for the whole Colony is not possible just at present owing to the Agricultural Report for 190b not having come to hand. However the figures for the preceding twelve months are available, and are as folNEW ZEALAND ABATTOIR. Cattle ... 46,320 630 1.36 Calves ... 6013 102 1.69 • Sheep .a- 300,375 564 .0.18. Lambs ... 44,961 36.. 0.8 ;•: Swine ... 17345. 131 - Q. 7--3 ...~415,514 1463 0.35 A comparison between the percentage 'of beasts condemned at the Picton Freezing Works and those of the whole Colony's various meat exporting establishments will not be out of place The Picton returns are tor the year ended 31st March last, and the.colonial figures apply to the previous year: PICTON FREEZING WORKS. Sheep ... 19,382 18 0.09 Lambs-. 56^893 17 0.03 Totals ... 76,276 35 0.046 NEW ZEALAND. Sheep ...1,926,218 1952 0 101 Lambs ...1'997,144 735 0.03 I Totals ...3^923,362 2887 /JjflHfi Cattle and pigs are omitte*^lCT|BJ cases owing to the Picton works m>« having supplied data relating to these lmeS' WELLINGTON WORKS.

The percentage of cattle condemned at the. Gear Company's woi;ks during the six months preceding May 30th, 1906, was 6.67, and that of the Wellington Meat Export Company for fivo months preceding the same date 4 per cent. The Picton percentage for the same period has been nil, no cattle having been yet:condemned this year. •However, only about 70 head have been killed. As the two Wellington meat export companies also, do a large retail -business, it is fair to make a comparison between their returns and those of the Blenheim Abattoir. Thus, while the total percentage of condemned cattle in Wellington during the first half of the present year was 5.33, that in Blenheim for the year ended 31st March - last was only 0.4. If there were any grounds for the assertion that inspectors were being bribed to pass the Wellington meat without due inspection, the position is rendered all the more satisfactory for local meat consumers.