DECLINE IN HERDS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 61, 11 September 1939, Page 8

DECLINE IN HERDS

TEN THOUSAND FEWER DAIRY COWS The number of dairy cows in New Zealand has fallen by head in the past four years, according to figures given in the Abstract of Statistics issued by the Government Sta j tistician. The total at January .Si was 1,8.13,713 head, compared with 1,872,797 a year before and 1,932,004 at the same date in 1935. The reasons for the decline have been reiterated at the annual meet, ings of dairy companies held through out the Dominion in the past few months—increased costs and the difficulty of obtaining labour. This instated to be one of the reasons for the fall in dairy production in the past season, although the main reason, of course,-was adverse weather. While dairy herds have been, red need, tota] cattle population has risen steadily in the past four years from 1/293, 199 to 1. 948. Increased exports of beef indicate that this has been caused by farmers fatt v.ing more cattle for slaughter. Although the number of sheep shorn in New Zealand last season, namely 29, 2(i!),031 head, was highest for years, sheep population at April 30 showed a decline. The total at that date Mas 31,857,549 over half a million fewer than ay ear be. fore. The number of pigs in. the Dominion at January 31, GS3 4h3 head, was the smallest for a number of eenrs, compared wth the peak of *08 419 in 1936.