DOMINION’S LIVESTOCK

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 73, Issue 370, 13 September 1930, Page 10

DOMINION’S LIVESTOCK

NEW RECORDS MADE GROWING DAIRY HERDS FEWER PIGS AND HORSES Substantial increases in the Dominion ’s flocks and herds were shown in the provisional returns of livestock issued by 1 lit Government Statistician in July. The final figures, which have now appeared, show that in most instances., the growth in numbers during the past year has been even more striking than tho incomplete returns indicated. The record total of sheep at April 30, giver: in the provisional returns as 30.(’37,390, ,is now shown to be 30,841,287, compared with 29,051,382 at April 30, 1929. Other outstanding facts are the attainment of a new record in dairy cows; the pre-eminent position of Auckland Province in the dairy industry, its herds accounting for over 56 per cent, of the North Island total; a new record in other cattle; a decrease of nearly 69,000 .in the number of pigs and a further slight recession in the number of horses. With the exception of sheep, the statistics were compiled as at January 31. Great Expansion of Herds The number of dairy cows exceeds the previous year’s record total by 69,258 and that of 1928 by 87,923- Following are the details of the final returns in comparison with those i'or 1929:

There have been reductions in the number of dairy cows in tne South

Island in each of the last four yearsIn 1925 the South Island herds totalled 307,797, since when there has been a decrease of 49,183. The North Island cows exceeded 1,000,000 for tho first time in 1924, when they represented 76.55 per cent, of the Dominion total. The present enumeration shows just over 82 per cent, in the North Island. New Record for Cattle The total number of cattle was at a record figure of 3,563,497 in 1924 and there was then a decline each year to 3,257,729 in 1927. A recovery of 16,000 was noted in 1928 and last year the increase was maintained, the total being 3,445,790. This year’s total of all cattle is 3,765,668, representing an increase of 507,939 since 1927 and exceeding by 202,171 the previous record of 1924If dairy cows are excluded, the statistics show for 1922 a record, up to that time, of 2,286,178 other cattle, and an annual contraction of the total to, 1,921,371 in 1928. Last year there was] an increase *to 2,074,727 and now a fur-| ther gain of 250,620 to a new record of 2,325,347. The following table show.s the distribution of cattle other than dairy cows:— Other Cattle

The number of pigs has again shown a marked decline, continuing the downward trend which was revealed last year. From 1916, when annual enumeration was commenced, until 1919 the number receded from 297,000 to 235,000. A steady increase followed in subsequent years until 586,898 was rea/Ched in 1928. Last year the number declined to 556,732 and a further fall of 68,939 to 487,793 is shown in this year’s returns.

Horses, except for a gain of 3450 in 1928, have steadily decreased in number since 1911, when the peak total, 404,284 was reached- The latest returns give tho number as 297,195, a fall of 1791 since last year and the lowest number since 1904.

Dairy Cows Land dist. 1929 1930 Increase Nth- Anckld. 224,294 244,689 20,395 Auckland .. 392,302 421,531 29,229 Gisborne . .. 36,949 39,791 2,842 Hawke’s Bay51,618 52,225 216,254 207,217 607 Taranaki . . 207,646 8,608 Wellington . 198,891 8,326 — — North Island 1,111,700 1,181,707 0,007 South Island 259,363 258,614 749* — ■ ■ ■ * 1 '■ 1 Totals . .. 1,371,003 J 440,321 09,258 *Pecrease in South Island

Land dist. 1929 1930 Increase Nth. Auekld. 262,902 296,735 33,833 Auckland .. 396,262 454,640 58,378 Gisborne 279,771 304,773 25,002 Hawke’s Bay 166.215 187,621 21,406 Taranaki 165,506 184,185 18,679 Wellington . 456,718 503,233 46,515 North Island 1,727,3741,931,187 203,813 South Island 374,353 394,160 46,807 Totals ... 2,074,727 2 325,347 250,620