DOMINION'S LIVESTOCK.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20307, 15 July 1929, Page 14

DOMINION'S LIVESTOCK.

FURTHER EXPANSION. NEW RECORD IN DAIRY COWS OTHER CATTLE ALSO INCREASE DEVELOPMENT IN THE PROVINCE

Following tho recent announcement of tho interim return of sheep, showing tho record total of 29,011,447, provisional returns liavo been issued of other livestock, enumerated at January 31. Tho outstanding facts aro the attainment of n new record in dairy cows; an increase iii tho number of other cattle for tho first timo sinco 1924; a sudden drop in tho number of pigs and a decline in tho number of horses. It should bo observed that tho present statistics aro subject to revision, and judging by previous experience, tho final returns will bo appreciably higher.

Tho number of dairy cows in 1928 was 1,352,398, exceeding by 28,966 the previous record of 1925. Following aro details of tho interim return for 1929 in comparison with tho final return last year, showing a further increaso of over 18,000: — DAIRY COWS. 1928. 1920. Increase. North Auckland 221,315 221,201 2,979 Auckland . . 371.51-1 392,020 17,507 Ginborno . . 35,000 30,949 1,949 Hawke's Bay .. 51,416 51,018 202 Taranaki .. 207.179 207,040 407 Wellington . . 193,191 193,891 700 North Island 1,087,014 1,111,418 23,804 South Island 201,781 259,361 *5,423 Totals . . 1,352,398 1,370,779 18,381 "Decrcaso in South Island. Tho reduction in tho number of dairy cows in 1926 and 1927 was wholly in tho South Island. In tho latter there were 307,797 in 1925, sinco when there has been a decrcaso of 48,000. llio North Island herds exceeded 1,000,000 cows for tho first time in 1924, when they represented 76.55 per cent, of tho total for tho Dominion. Tho present enumeration shows over 81 per cent, in tho North Island. Large Increase in Ono Year. The total number of cattle was at the record figure of 3,563,497 in 1924, since when it declined each year to 3,257,729 in 1927. Last year's return showed an increase of 16,000 and now a further increase of 170,000 is disclosed, tho latest total being 3,444,191. If dairy cows arc excluded the statistics show a record of 2,286,178 other cattle in 1922, and annual contraction of tho total to 1,921,371 in 1928. As against the decrease of 364,800 in six years, there has now been an increase of 152,000. The following summary shows the distribution of cattle other than dairy cows: — 1925. 1929. Increase. North Auckland 213,713 202,902 19,159 Auckland . . 359,355 395,419 30,004 Gisborno .. 200,401 279,021 19,220 Hav.-ke's Bay . . 151,363 105,593 14,530 Taranaki . . 119,023 105,500 15,883 Wellington . . 428,013 450,718 23,705 North Island 1,592,493 1,720,059 133,501 South Island 325.573 317,353 13,480 Totals . . 1,921,371 2,073,412 152,041 Fewer Pigs and Horses. Tho rapid expansion in the number of pigs appears to have been checked. In 1916, when tho annual enumeration was commenced, there were 297,000, but three years later the total had fallen to 235,000. It increased annually to 586,898 last year, tho gain in 1927-28 alone having been over 66,000. This year's return shows a fall to 556.795. A notable feature of the 1928 statistics was ail increaso in the number of horses which had been steadily declining since 1911, the gain during the year having been 3450. On the evidence of tho interim returns this has not been sustained, as tho total is given as 299.120, against 307,160 last year and 303,713 in 1927, the latter having been tho lowest since 1904.