SHEEP IN CANADA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19928, 23 April 1928, Page 5

SHEEP IN CANADA.

Developments of the present year-go to confirm the conviction that Canada has entered upon a new era of sheep breeding and wool production, and efforts are unrelenting to accelerate the rate of progress. Notice is periodically received (says a Canadian report) of new range herds being established in Western Canada while* the value ol the sheep on small farms is being more generally appreciated and a small herd is increasingly becoming an additional phase of mixed farming activity. The sheep population in Canada would appear to be definitely on the rise. The scope for the industry is enormous, and the sheep has a long way to go before coming into its own in Canadian economic life. While at the end of 1926 thei'6 were 3,951.335 milch cows, 5,208,815 other cattle, and 4,470,771 swine in the Dominion, there were only 3,035,5G7 sheep. While Canadians consume 75.451b., of beef par capita per annum and 77.44 lb., of pork, the average consumption of mutton is only 9.381b. While a large and profitable export trade h.is been built up in beef and pork, that in mutton 'is insignificant, and 98 per cent, of slaughterings are consumed at home. Exports of-mutton-front Canada represent but 1.5 per cent, of those of bacon and hams and 11 per cent, of those of beef.