Livestock Imports and Exports Back to Pre-war Levels

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume 78, Issue 5, 16 May 1949, Page 435

Livestock Imports and Exports Back to Pre-war Levels

IMPORTS and exports of livestock for breeding purposes are rapidly passing pre-war levels and there is no doubt whatever that

this demonstrates a very healthy state of affairs in the Dominion’s

herds and flocks. Not only does it show that our farmers are

determined to maintain and im-

prove the quality of their stock, but also that present standards are high and New Zealand breeds are much sought after by producers and breeders the world over.

Although our export trade in livestock is largely concerned with Australia and South America, I notice that over the past 12 months stock has been exported to Canada, Iran, Fiji, East Africa, Singapore, Tonga, Papeete, and Nauru, and I feel sure that only the excellent quality of New Zealand stock is responsible for the very wide interest shown abroad.

During the war shortages of shipping space hampered the development of the export trade in New Zealand livestock as well as the plans of the Dominion’s breeders wishing to introduce new blood into their herds and flocks. The acquisition of the Motuihe Island Quarantine Station by the Navy made importing even more difficult, particularly for Auckland and the northern districts. Now that the new station at Motutapu Island, in the Hauraki Gulf, is operating, the quarantine problem is no longer a serious one. With this station and that on Somes Island in Wellington all imports of livestock can now be more conveniently and easily handled.

One of the most interesting features of the cattle importations is the introduction of the Galloway breed; four bulls and 43 heifers arrived in the Dominion last year. This breed, which thrives in the Highlands of Scotland, has the reputation of being a great beef producer and has won some of the highest awards at Smithfield Market in London. It is hoped that Galloways will prove useful in the redevelopment of our own high country in the same way as the Polled Angus have done in the past.

Further drafts of Cheviot sheep, also from the Scottish Highlands, have recently arrived and their progress on hill country will be watched with great interest. We are still relying on Australia for renewals of Merino strains. and nearly 400 were brought into the Dominion last year. Now that the war is over, South America is again becoming one of our most important markets for pedigree livestock and over the past 12 months more than 200 sheep, mainly Corrie-

dale and Romney Marsh, were shipped there. I feel that not nearly enough credit or recognition has been given to New Zealand for the Corriedale strain. New Zealanders are apt to forget that this breed was developed in their own country within the relatively short history of the Dominion. Even before the Second World War there was a wide demand for Corriedales from South America, Australia, Japan, and other countries.

Mr. James Little, to whom the biggest share of the credit for Corriedales should go, died in 1921 and the continued demand for them from overseas is the best recognition of his ability and confidence that he would have wanted.

An interesting and significant development in our export of livestock is the growing demand from Australia for pedigree dairy cattle. A number of Friesians have already been shipped across the Tasman and a marked interest continues to be shown in other breeds. This too, I feel, is a great compliment to the splendid research, experimental, and testing work which has been carried on in this country, not only by the Department of Agriculture, but by the farmers themselves, their organisations, and the breed -associations.

Another export of increasing importance is that of thoroughbred stock. Many of us like to believe, and not without some justification, that our racehorses are in world class, and the fact that Australian buyers are bidding keenly for our yearlings and bloodstock certainly indicates the quality of our thoroughbreds. In 1947 nearly £lOO,OOO was earned from this export trade alone and this figure is believed to have been exceeded in 1948.

In just over a hundred years New Zealand breeders have come a long way indeed. The pioneers, with little experience to guide them in this new land, under conditions often quite foreign to the stock which they brought with them, laid the foundations for today when New Zealand breeds can well match those in other lands. The full cycle has turned; after having to import every head of stock from abroad, after experimenting tirelessly, continuously seeking the ideal, never satisfied with the “fairly good,” New Zealand breeders have now become exporters of high-quality stock.

The export of livestock is now an important currency earner for the Dominion. Not only does it evidence a more than creditable past performance, but it also augurs well for the future.

EDWARD CULLEN,

Minister of Agriculture.