EXPORT OF LIVE STOCK

Otago Witness, Issue 3487, 11 January 1921, Page 12

EXPORT OF LIVE STOCK

NEW REGULATIONS. SHIPMENT BY S.S. WAIKOUAITI. (From Our Own Correspondent.) LONDON, November 26. An alteration in the regulations governing the export of cattle, sheep, and pigs to New Zealand has liad the immediate effect of enabling a large shipment of pedigree animals to be sent to the dominion by the s.s. Waikouaiti, formerly the German steamer Irmgard, which was purchased by the Union Steam Ship Company, and which left Liverpool on November 19. This is the first consignment of any importance sent out from this country since the war. The regulations laid it down that for one month from the date of an outbreak of foot and mouth disease in England or Wales no stock should leave this country for the dominion. The result has been that New Zealand has been cut off from the importation of new blood from this side for a considerable time, for only on two occasions during the past year have there been a few days clear of the full month without the report of an outbreak of the disease. Whereas before the war the disease was sporadic, ami there were periods of years in which it was unheard of, it seems that it has now come to 6tay. A number of theories are put forward as to its introduction, and Germany is greatly blamed. It is suggested that straw packings from that country are infected with the virus. Franco and Belgium suffered through the cattle restored from Germany under the terms of the Peace Treaty, and it ie thought that there has also been an introduction into

England through that channel. One scientist goes so far as t-o suggest that the germs are oarried by the wind from the Continent. Ihe fact remains iha-t hardly a month ■without a report from some part of the country of an outbreak of the disease. At a. meeting of breeders and exporters held in London in October, the regulations governing the export of live stock were discussed, - and as a result of the meeting a proposal was put before the New Zealand Government through the High Commissioner. This wa3 that animals from known clean areas should be segregated m Liverpool for a period of 14 days If at the end of that time no signs of disease m the animals w-ie apparent, and there were no epidemic outbreaks of foot and mouth disease in the United Kingdom, nor further outbreaks of foot and mouth disease at points of 0n,,i0 of the stock or in the Liverpool area they should be shipped by the first available vesNew Zealand Government approved of Liverpool' 51 for segregated stafc- «■ _ with Messrs J- ana lmg, ani necessary veterinary supeithe New Zealand Government veterinary 1 sector in London, who decides as to whether tbTpLce of origin of the animals can be accepted as a non-mfected area. A VALUABLE CARGO. As the result of the new regulations the Wafkouaiti, which proceeded to Lew Zealand last week by way of Panama carried 23 bead of cattle, six sheep, and three pigs, a number of these anmals having awaited shipment for a considerable tune. Amongst these is a Shorthorn bull for the Knapdale Estate, an Aberdeen-Angus bull consigned to Messrs Murray, Roberts, and Co., Wellington, as agents! and six Aberdeen-Angus bulls and eight heifer 3 consigned to Wellington for Mr Armstrong. The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company is shipping a Jersey, a Red Poll, and a Shorthorn bull, and two Berkshire pigs for various buyers; and Messrs Dalgety and Co. are shipping a Southdown ram from Sir J. Colman’s estate. Gratton Park Surrey, to the order of Mr J allies Knight, of Feildine. A Jersey bull and a Jersey heifer are also being sent by Messrs Dalgety and Co. to Wellington for Mr Lancaster. The heifer is of special interest, as she lias taken the following prizes during 1930; First in the Royal Agricultural Show, Darlington; first prize” at Tring, Chichester, and Guildford; second at Oxford and Tunbridge Wells; and third at Reading and Salisbury. Both the hull and the heifer are from Mrs Evelyn’s estate, Wooton House, Dcrking. In addition to the above, four Border Leicester sheep are being sent to Mr H. F. Nicoll, of Ashburton. The next consignment to lie sent by the Loan and Mercantile Agency Company will be by the Federal Line’s new vessel, the Piako, which is expected to leave Liverpool in January. This consignment will include Jersey cattle, and also IS goats of especial milking strain, to the order of Mr Roland Hill, of Auckland Province. It is interesting to note that the New Zealand and Australian Land Company, acting through its agent, the National Morgage and Agency Company, in London, has recently sent several lots of Corriedale rams to South America, especially tlie Argentine. These animals have had to be transhipped in London, but in spite of the long double voyage the shipments have been me st successful. Out of coe consignment of 25 sheep only one was lost during the double voyage. The shipment of thoroughbred racehorses from this country to New Zealand has not made much progress since the war. Some few months ago a dominion stud master was over here and was in touch with all the important breeders, but the prices were so much higher than the New Zealand breeders wished to pay that he returned without doing any business.