The Live Cattle Trade.

Feilding Star, Volume XVII, Issue 15, 17 July 1895, Page 2

The Live Cattle Trade.-

+ Writes the Wellington correspondent of the Hawkes' Bay Herald : A number of members of both Houses visited the ss. Southern Cross, now lying in the harbor, for the purpose of inspecting her cargo of live stock for the English market. I had a conversation with Mr Lawry (Chairman of the Committee of bhe House of Representatives) as to the quality and number of the stock. He informed me that 550 cattle, 400 sheep, and about 60 horses were on board. He considers the cattle as a whole to be a good line, a large proportion of them being crossed with the Hereford, He is, however, satisfied that the animals of the shorthorn breed and those crossed with the Devon show unmistakeable signs of being calculated to stand the voyage much better than the Herefords, as evidence of wasting is more apparent in Herefords than in other breeds. He informed me that there was one magnificent specimen of the shorthorn breed which he estimated to dress at 16001b. Mr Lawiy considers that before the export of live cattle can be a success some less primiive method of feeding and watering must be adopted, aud though there are thirty three attendants he is certain that it is impossible to supply the wants of the animals iu the tropics by placing a bucket before them containing water. The sheep he considers an infeiior lot, being the first cross from merfno and not fat. His opinion was endorsed by Mr M'Kenzie, Mr Duncan, and others qualified to judge. The horses are not heavy, but strong active animals. Mr Lawry deplores that the hay (lucerne) is of poor quality, exceedingly mouldy, and calculated to produce what should be avoided, viz., thirst. This is the largest shipment of live stock ever sent from the colonies, and the stockowners here are earnestly hoping that the enterprise will result in success.