MANY CATTLE DIE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18279, 21 December 1922, Page 6

MANY CATTLE DIE.

OVERCOME BY HEAT. MORTALITY IN SYDNEY. In a paddock at the abattoirs over 100 ctlttlc, purchased at, the Homebush sales, and awaiting slaiughter, collapsed and died from the effects of the heat, says a Sydney paper. These cattle were among those which were to have formed the supply of beef for the metropolis. They were standing in open paddocks at the abattoirs, and are said to have been without shelter of any kind. The cattle fell one by one during the day, and the attendants were unaible to prevent the heavy mortality. Over 87 of the dead cattle were carted away for boiling down- A few were dressed as meat, but such meat does not keep, so practically speaking the whole of the cattle were lost. The cattle cost at the sale somewhat about £1000. Both the wholesale butchering traders and country people present at the Homebush stock sales were emphatic in their opinion that the Meat Board should provide shelter of some kind for animals thus exposed to hot weather while waiting to be killed. When the yards were fenced and prepared practicably the whole of the trees which were growing there were cut down. No shelter of any kind was provided to take the placj of those trees. Such a heavy mortality among cattle is unusual, but the general opinion among the trade is that the Meat Board c.-xn, and should, prevent the possibility of a recurrence of such suffering and loss. The chairman of the Meat Industries Board, Mr. G. H. S. King, staled that he understood from the manager of the abattoirs that between 70 and 80 cattle had died from heat apoplexy. They were, he said, probably Queensland cattle that had been dipped several times, and had then experienced al long train journey, the combined effects of which would make them less able to stand the intense heat. It was not unusual for a few cattle to be lost during the weekends in severe weather, but the number on this occasion was quite abnormal. There was no reason why the carcase butchers who had purchased the cattle could not have taken them to the covered slieds attached to the abattoirs, which were equipped with water sprays for the beasts. It was ei fact that there were practically no trees in the paddocks, but there was an ample water supply and" every other convenience.