STOCK KILLINGS

Waikato Times, Volume 195, Issue 22460, 22 September 1944, Page 6

STOCK KILLINGS

DROP IN BONER CATTLE The reduction In cattle killing's as compared with the previous year of 18,159 was not unexpected, said Mr W. E. Hale, chairman of directors of the Auckland Farmers’ Freezing- Company, Limited, at the annual meeting- yesterday, when reviewing- the company’s killing- figures for the year. The drop, he said, was almost entirely in dairy cows, excessive numbers of which had been culled and killed of recent years without adequate replacement by young stock. In vealer calves, 2,0 00 more were killed than in the previous year. .Many of these could have been with advantage carried on to more mature weights. The totals of 202,000 sheep and 005,000 lambs killed constituted records for the company’s works and were indicative of the recent expansion of sheen farming in the Auckland Province. To a considerable extent, this expansion had been at the expense of dairying. Pig killings were up by 19,000 compared with the previous year, but were 105,000 down on the peak figure of 193637. A great deal of leeway would have to be made up if the pig industry was to be restored to its forme- importance. Bobby calf killings were higher by 2.576 compared with the previous season, but fewer calves were being killed this season. Mr Hale said the Dominion’s milking cow population was 66,000 less last season than in 1942-43 and 108,000 less than in 194142.