LIVESTOCK IN TARANAKI

Taranaki Daily News, 8 September 1934, Page 24 (Supplement)

LIVESTOCK IN TARANAKI

DAIRY COWS PREDOMINATE

FOURTH PLACE IN DOMINION.

The latest returns from the Census and Statistic Office as at January 31 last show that Taranaki district owned 262,823 dairy cows out of a Dominion total of 1,932,531, or 13.6 per cent. Taranaki comes-fourth on the list out of the twelve districts in New Zealand, being exceeded by Auckland, which includes the Waikato, with 595,250 cows, North Auckland with 364,108 cows, and Wellington with 267,039 cows. In pigs Taranaki is also fourth, with 68,345 out of a total of 660,387 for the Dominion, or just over 10 per cent. Taranaki had only one pig to every four cows, but from the .interest taken in pigs of late in Taranaki it is evident that the number has greatly increased. Auckland has 227,887 pigs, North Auckland 112,357, and Wellington 91,889. Taranaki is surprisingly low in horses, possessing only 17,618 out of the Dominion total of 273,938, or about 6 per cent. It. is seventh on the list, having just one third of the Canterbury total of 51,557 horses. In big cattle, including dairy cows, Auckland heads the list with 1,056,633. Wellington is second with 751,680, North Auckland third with 678,078, and Taranaki fourth with 444,571, or just over 10 per cent of the Dominion total of 4,300,915.

In sheep Taranaki shows up very badly, possessing at April 30, only 872,566 out of a Dominion total of 28,646,222, or only 3 per cent. Nelson and Westland are the only provinces with fewer sheep. There were shorn in Taranaki last season 821,142 sheep out of a Dominion total of 25,017,789 sheep, and 240,065 lambs out of a Dominion total of 3,500,237 lambs. During last season 522,914 lambs were tailed in Taranaki out of a Dominion total of 15,274,697 tails.