LIVE STOCK IN NEW ZEALAND.

Otago Witness, Issue 2817, 11 March 1908, Page 6

LIVE STOCK IN NEW ZEALAND.

j No cause for congratulation can be found in the return which has just been published of the number of horses, cattle, and swine in New Zealand on October 31 last. Horses, it is true, show an increase of 10,198 compared with the return of the previous year, but the more vveaithproducing cattle decrease by 35,451 during the year, and pigs fov the third year in succession show a decrease, though during tho last year it was only 1145. The most satisfactory features of the figures relating to horses are the increase of 4565 in mares and geldings and the decrease of 34 in stallions in the draught \arieties, though there is still a stallion tc: every 37 mares (and it must be remembered that probably not one-fourth of the mares are bred from in any season). Possibly a number of colts are left entire in the expectation of their finding Australian buyers, but this is a very doubtful prospect, as it is reported that tbe Australian markets have already been oversupplied with New Zealand stallions of indifferent or inferior quality, and a large quantity of the stock included in the return under notice unfortunately comes under that description. When the question of improving the breeding of horses is discussed the mistake is generally made of directing most attention to thoroughbred and other light horses, but the statistics as well as the stock seen in our sales and markets show that the draught classes are more in need of reform. The thoroughbred stallions number 670 (an increase of 15 in the year) to 2686 ttioroughbred mares, and it will be more correct to take the light horses ail together —l66s stallions and 83,744 mares, or 50 mares to each horse. Here the proportion bred from is even smaller than in the draught class, but there is, nevertheless, an increase in the total stock, and as the uses for light horses are certainly decreasing, this must be regarded as an unprofitable class to the breeder. The proportion which would be suitable for an export trade is recognised to be very small. An extraordinary item is the increase of 98 (from 264 to 362) in the number of pony stallions and of 230 in ponies under two years old- Surely there has not been such a boom in ponybreeding as these figures would indicate, and, in any case, the breeding of ponies is not a profitable industry. Horsebreeding, as a whole, is in need of radical improvement, and until the Government takes the subject in hand, and, disregarding the opinions of those who speak with no authority, prevents the use of worthless sires, the deterioration will continue. The decrease of 35,451 in the number of cattle was anticipated, owing to the large slaughter of all classes during tire drought last year in Canterbury and Ot-ago, and the "general destruction of calves of the dairy breeds. Otago has a shortage of 23,593, of which nearly half is in steers, principally those-under two years old. The most marked fallingoff in dairy cattle is in- the crossbred classes, and no doubt is to some extent due to a weeding oat of inferior cows, or, what is much the same thing, the preservation of purebred animals when others were sent to the slaughter. The same is the case in Canterbury. It is noteworthy thao in both provinces, as well as in the Dominion generally, there is an increase in the number of cows j and heifers intended for fattening, a I movement which ig difficult to account j for. Taking the individual breeds, the greatest increase is in Jerseys, both bulls and females, and it ie rather unexpected to find a relatively large increase in Herefords and polled Angus for dairy purposes, while Ayrshires have made proportionately small progress, bulls actually marking a decrease, amd shorthorns show a substantial decrease in almost every class. The number of bulls described .as crosses shows a small diminution, but is far too large _ for the well-Winp of -either th» dairying or the grazing industry; out of 30,165 bulls 15,329— more than *one-half— are crosses. There can be no lasting improvement in oui cattle until the use of purebred sires becomes a rigid rule. It may be taken that these crossbred bulls are used exclusively in dairy herds, and the practice may be excustd by the allegation that they are the progeny of good milkers ; but there is ample evidence that the one consideration with very many owners of dairy herds is to got their cows in calf, caring nothing for the progeny, which, indeed, ie as a rule destroyed immediately after birth. This is no way to build up profitable dairy herd?. Theie is certainly much room for improvement in cattle-breeding, and also for the development of both branches of the industry. In regard to swine, the figures show little change ; the slight decrease in numbers may be accounted for by the pig's generally being plaughterpd at an earlier age than formerly, and there may easily have been an increase in the total number produced during the year. Berkshires preponderate greatly amongst the pure .breeds, but 40 per cent, of the boars and am overwhelming proportion of the sows for breeding purposes are crossbred. j Otago and Canterbury are least blameable for the use of mongrel boars and sows. The sheep returns are these \rhi-oh were collected last April, and were fully commented upon when published. They, however, serve to show that it is only in sheep-farming that tlie Dominion ifi malting .substantial progress; there ia little doubt, now that " the drought has ! brolien," that a further considerable in-

crease in our flocks will be disclosed by ' the returns to be taken next month. It cannot be regarded as otherwise than unfortunate that decreased attention is being paid to cattle : it has been pointed out repeatedly in these columns that cattlebreeding nrd both grazing and dairyfarming v ill always be remunerative branches of agriculture, more so, probably, in the future than they have been in the past. There is evidence, particularly in the North Island, that more attention is being given to pig-keeping, and a considerable reduction from the present price® can be suffered before the industry will become unprofitable. The* wonderful season for sheep in the North Klamd last year has tempted many to rush into these and disoaid other stock, but it will be found that a great deal of land is more suited to cattle than to sheep, and many of tine settlers who have changed in haste will before long return to cows and pigs. j