NOTES FOR GRAZIER AND DEALER.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14829, 21 November 1913, Page 14

NOTES FOR GRAZIER AND DEALER.

The return of the Department of Agriculture for Ireland giving the exports of animals from that country up to September 20th, shows that since January Ist, 225,938 fat cattle have been chipped, against 176,941 in the corresponding period last year; and of other cattle, 547,619, against 204,3-11; sheep numbexpd 527,222, against 426,745: and pigs, 112,512, against 196,251. Altogether the totalnumber of animals exported was 1,444,457, against 1,033,479 last year up to this date.

The final estimates of the numbers of the several classes of live stock in Canada at the end of June aro stated as. follows by the International Institute of Agriculture: —Horses, 2,535,800; milch cows, 2,648,800; other cattle, 4,153,000; sheep, 2,141,000; pigs, 3,071,600. These figures show increases since 1912 of 157,596 horses, 131,441 milch cows, 103,499 other cattle, and 56,406 sheep, with a decrease of 81,0S0 pigs.- The. small extent to which sheep are kept in Canada is the most remarkable feature of these statistics.

By tho generosity of the Duke of Bedford, President of tho Zoological Society, a little flock of the mouflon (Ovis iuusimon). the wild sheep of Corsica and Sardinia, has been obtained for tho collection in R«£ent T s Park (says "The Times"). The flock consists of two adult rams about five years old, two owes four years old. and throe young rams and ewes —a sufficient number to form a satisfactory breeding stock. For the winter it will probably b» necessary to keep the rams and ewes ia separate as they would certainly fight in close quarters, but by the time the Mappin hills are ready for occupation it will be possible to place them together. The mouflon were obtained on the hills near Lanusei, ■ where there is still a small flock. They keep together until the breeding season, about December, when they break up into small parties, each containing a single ram and several ewes. The lambs are born in April or May in a highly advanced condition, and reach maturity very rapidly, being fertile in their first year. JLike all wild sheep, mouflon are shy of man and very wary, but this is due to intelligent rather than purely instinctive, fear, as they are not wild in captivity. They are accustomed to spend most of the day in concealment undor tise scrub, feeding, and moving from place to place at nisht. Their diet is by no means limited to herbage.