SHEEP FLOCKS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 76, Issue 105, 6 May 1933, Page 20 (Supplement)

SHEEP FLOCKS

DOMINION FIGURES DECREASE IN TOTAL THE PRICE OF WOOL. A decrease both in the number of sheep-owners and the number of sheep in the Dominion is shown in the annual sheep returns for the year ended April 30 last, presented, to Parliament last session. This follows on the decrease registered the previous year, and further illustrates the tendency for sheep-farmers to kill off their flocks for realisation as mutton when the price of wool is low. If the fluctuation in price is temporary there may bo little change in the number of sheep, but the following figures showing the number of sheep in the Dominion in each year since 1914 and the total price realised for the reported wool clip illustrates the tendency for farmers to make up the drop in wool prices by the sale of mutton: — No. of sheep. £ 1914 24,798,763 9,318,114 1915 24,901,421 10,387,875 1916 24,788,150 12.386,074 1917 25,270,386 12,175,366 1918 26,538,302 7,527,266 1919 25,828,554 19,559,537 1920 23,919,970 11,863,827 1921 23,285,031 5,221,479 1922 22,222,259 11,882,463 1923 .23,081,439 , 10,904,658 1924 23,775.776 15,267,544 1925 24,547.955 17,739,736 1926 24,904,993 11,830.190 1927 25,649,016 12.961,744 1928 27,133,810 16,769,098 1929 29,051,382 15,359,206 193 C 30,841,287 7.644,362 1931 29,792,516 *6,195,127 1932 28,691,788 *5.552.885 ’•'These two totals are for slightly different periods, but make no material difference. Decrease in Owners. On April 30, J 932, there were 30,4-19 shccpowners in New Zealand, as against 30,789 at the same date in .193.1, a decrease of 340. A decrease was shown in each of 'the five sheep districts, the detailed figures being as follows: 1931 1932 Auckland 5473 5408 Poverty Bay-Hawke’s Bay .. .. 3869 3778 Wellington-West Coast 5248 5174 Marlborough-Nelson-Westland . 2561 2542 Cante rbury-Kaikoura 6178 6134 Otago 7160 7413 Total, Dominion 30.789 30,499 ’The number of sheep in ench district was as follows: 1931 1932 Auckland 3,311,406 2,992,354 Poverty Bay-Hawke's Bay 6,424,856 6,280,928 Wellington-West Coast . 6,150.614 5,673,705 Marlborough Nelson-West-land 1,496,927 1.448,903 Canterbury-Knikoura .. 5.70 7 ,731 5,638,714 Otago 6,700,982 6,657,184 29,792,516 28,691,788 The return shows that there wore 24 owners with flocks of 20.001 sheep or over. Four of these belonged to the Poverty Bay district, one to Hawke’s Bay, two to the Rangit.ikci, one to Featherston, five to Marlborough. 10 to Canterbury or Kaikoura, and six to Otago. There were 143 owners with between 7501 and .10,000; 442 with between 5001 and 7500; 169 with between 2501 and 5000; 5837 with between .1001 and 2500; 6652 with between 501 and 1000; 6937 with between 201. and 500; and 5324 with between one and 200.

over 2,000,000 in the size of lhe New Zealand flock, the number of breeding ewes up to April 30 last has been fairly well maintained, although the drop is the first recorded since 1920. The figures since 1914 arc as follows: 1914 12,920.176 1915 J 2,615,381 1916 12,892,767 1917 13,260,169 1918■ .. .. 13,022.034 1919 f.. 12,341,900 1920 11.569,675 1921 12,147,788 1922 12.496,054 1923 13,'063,003 1924 13,076,094 1925 .1 13,715,223 1926 13,948.252 1927 14.831.730 1928 15,534,051 1929 15.608,155 1930 17,564,175 1931 17,608.729 1932 17,063,060 In view of the fact that there, was au excellent lambing season this year and that a quota has been placed on the exportation of mutton, it. is not likely that there will be any phenomenal decrease in the New Zealand flock for the year ended April 30 next.

Japan’s purchases of British pedigree pigs continues, reports a London paper. Following the selection of a Berkshire from the hefd of Mr. 8. Cecil Armitage, and a. Large and Middle White from Messrs. Chivers and Sons, three Middle Whites have been chosen from the herd of Sir Gomer Berry and Mrs. A. F. Haves Sadler. From Pendley two unrelated boars have been selected. Pendley Jupiter is a yearling by Pendley Bugle Boy 2nd. The other boar is younger—an August pig. Ho was sired by Wharfedale Wimple. From Mrs. Hayes Sadler there goes a vearling gift, Norsbury Virtue 80th.