PEDIGREE STOCK

Manawatu Times, Volume LV, Issue 7110, 7 January 1930, Page 9

PEDIGREE STOCK

Export From Britain

ASSISTED PASSAGE SCHEME

Two years ago the Empire Marketing Board invited certain Empire Governments to submit schemes for tho assistance of tho export of pedigree live stock from the United Kingdom to parts of tho Empire anxious to grade up their stock, with the object of developing their export trade with the United Kingdom in live stock products. Under those schemes tho board was to pay half the freight on a limited number of registered pedigree animals bought in Britain by bona lino stock farmers overseas, and tho Empire Governments concerned wore to pay the other half of the freight charges. Schemes on these lines wore accordingly framed by a number of Governments.

Figures concerning the operations under these schemes are now available. They show that when the Kenya Colcnly schome came into force on January 1, 3928, 44 cattle (mainly of the Ayrshire, Shorthorn and Red Poll breeds, in order named), 20 sheep (Dorset Horns) and eight pigs (Berkshire and Large Black), were exported with assisted passages. The scheme proved such a success during 12 months that it was extended to the year just euded, during which the Empire Marketing Board contributed up to a maximum of £ISOO for this purpose. A grant not exceeding £IOOO was also made for assisted passages for pedigree stock exported to Northern Rhodesia during 1929, allowing for a maximum of 40 cattle, 20 sheep and 20 pigs. Period of Quarantine The schome l’or Southern Rhodesia carno iuto effoct on April 1, 1928, and £3OOO was approved by Southern Rhodesia to be devoted to tho purpose, of which up to £ISOO was to be provided by the Empire Marketing Board. During the year 107 pedigree animals were exported under the scheme; in this case only cattle were included. Red Polls, Sussex and Ayrshire were the most popular breeds. Tho scheme was renewed for the current year (up to March 31, 1930), and a total of £4OOO (half, as usual, to come out of the Empire Marketing fund) has been set aside. Pedigree ewes and rams are now included.

Animals must pass through the London quarantine station and undergo « subsequent 28 days' detention at Capetown. Southern Rhodesia has already established a market in Great Britain for livestock products, and this is rapidly expanding. There are immense possibilities in the growth of a live stock export trade with Great Britain, and also in luo development of chilled and frozen meat exports, and a shortage of good sires has hitherto proved one of the main obstacles to such developments.

Following the success of these three schemes, similar ones were submitted by the Governments of Australia, British Columbia and the Falkland Islands, and were approved by the Empire Marketing Board recently. The export from the United Kingdom to Australia of ISO head of cattle, 250 sheep and 100 swine is estimated for, and the cost of passage is to bo borne by the purchaser, the Commonwealth Government, the State Government concerned and the Empire Marketing Board. This will cover all port-to-port expenses. There will be no freight charges, since all but one of the shipping companies have agreed to carry such stock freight free. The scheme came into effect from October 3, 1929, the maximum cost to the Empire Marketing Board being limited to £SOOO. British Columbian Scheme The scheme for British Columbia is on the same lines as that for Kenya, the cost being divided between the Government of British Columbia and the Empire Marketing Board. A shipment of 45 head of registered Ayrshire cattle, some of which were presented to the University of British Columbia, was recently sent from Glasgow to Vancouver. A similar scheme for the Falkland Islands will be applied only to sheep, as wool accounts for over 90 per cent of the Colony's exports, a total of nearly 4,000,0001 b., value £236,000, having been exported, almost entirely to Great Britain, in 1927. The London quanantino station, established at the expenso of the Empire Marketing fund and managed by tire Royal Agricultural Society of England, has now been in existence for just over 18 months. Stock intended for export to several of the Dominions and Colonies is confined in the station for 14 days, at a nominal fee. The station is regularly Used by the Union of South Africa, Southern Rhodesia and the Irish Free State; .and Northern Rhodesia, Trinidad, Cyprus and Northern Ireland have recently decided to accept stock which has passed through it. From the date of opening, April 4, 1928, to August 14, 1929, 676 head of stock had passed through. The accommodation consists of 18 stalls and 26 boxes, and about 50 head of cattle and 70 sheep or pigs can bo managed during any one period.