N.Z. SHEEP AND CATTLE TO BE SENT TO CHINA

Wanganui Chronicle, 31 January 1947, Page 4

N.Z. SHEEP AND CATTLE TO BE SENT TO CHINA

MOVE TO IMPROVE HERDS AND FLOCKS THERE (P.A.) Wellington, Jan. 30. A thousand pedigree sheep and 400 pedigree cattle will leave New Zealand in a few days for China. They are to be used for stud purposes in improving herds which were decimated by Japanese. Following approval by Cabinet U.N.R.R.A. purchased livestock cattle through New Zealand Herd Improvement Society and the sheep through, the Department of Agriculture, U.N.R.R.A. has arranged to ship the animals on a social cattle ship, the Lindenwood Victory. The vessel is under charter to U.N.R.R.A. and will load the sheep at Lyttelton, on, or about February 12 and the cattle at Auckland shortly after.

Before Cabinet approval was given the Government arranged for U.N.R.R.A. to send Mr. R. B. Tennent, Assistant Director-General of Agriculture, to China. During his visit of a month, Mr. Tennent, co-operating with the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture, was able to determine the types of livestock best suited for the purpose and t|ie methods of internal distriution. He also gained an assurance, on behalf of the Government of New Zealand and U.N.R.R.A., that the livestock would be used • only for breeding purposes, and ultimate long term improvement of the industry in China.

The sheep are Corriedales, comprising 100 rams and 900 ewes. The cattle are Jerseys, Friesians, Shorthorns, and Ayreshires, comprising 100 bulls and 30 cows. On the voyage the livestock will be cared for by expert men under the control of two U.N.R.R.A. veterinarians and three officials of the Department of Agricul. ture. A Chinese student who has just graduated at Massey College will travel in the ship, and, on arrival, will probably take up a position with the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture. “The sheep will be taken to the cold north-west provinces,” said Mr. Tennent, “which are well grassed. The country is similar to New Zealand in that much of it is tussock country, interspersed with good feed.” “Chinese sheep produce only about 31b. of wool per head and about half of this is hair. Increased production through crossing with Corriedales will be important to the people in those cold parts of China, where each little village has its own woollen mill.

“The cattle,” continued Mr Tennent, ‘Will only be a drop in the bucket as far as China is concerned, as there are between 15 and 20 million native cattle in the country, but these are of the- buffalo variety, and, when crossed with western breeds, their lactation period is increased considerably. The Chinese do not use milk much as a food. The Government is doing all it can to induce the Chinese to use it more. The cattle will not be allowed to fall into the hands of butchers and township dairy herds, but -will be used to improve the pedigree stock over a period of years.”