SLAUGHTER OF CALVES

Hokitika Guardian, 9 February 1921, Page 3

SLAUGHTER OF CALVES

SERIOUS DANGER OF SHORTAGE

WELLINGTON, February 7

The extensive slaughtering of calves this season has caused some alarm to those who view the position of the farming industry from a national standpoint. As a consequence of reports showing that this practice was very general, the Hon. W. F. Noswortliy, Minister of Agriculture, called for definite figures relating to slaughtering, from the stock inspectors throughout Xew Zealand, and the result he handed to a representative of the “Lyttelton Times.” remarking that the figures stowed that there is serious danger of a shortage of cattle in the future, ml correspondingly high prices for those who wish to secure stock for their farms.

Where dairying is extensively carried on, the slaughtering has been most pevalent. For instance, in the Auckland district in counties where dairying is an extensive industry, the percentage of calves slaughtered is 57 per cent , equal to a total of 107,481 calves slaughtered. In other Auckland counties where there is not so much dairying the percentage destroyed drops to 2. representing 9301 calves, or a total f 116,8*12 calves slaughtered this season m tlie Auckland provinces. Though » large number of slaughtered calves are not skinned, especially as the returns from skins this year have been unduly low, the Stock Department has found that 92,'456 calf skins had : t*‘*n received in the Auckland stores up till January 17. Details from other parts of New Zealand show that in the dairying districts of Hawera, the percentage of slaughtered calves is sixty-five, while in Wanganui district it drops to fifty.. Blenheim reports that 40 per cent of the calves of this season were destroyed, Gisborne the same per centage while the Canterbury figures show a great range—2% in Rotherham district, 65 per cent in Kaikoura, 51 at Amberley, 75 around Christchurch, 95 per cent in Lincoln area, and 45 per cent around Ashburton.

In the dairying districts of Southland and Otago, tlu* slaughterings ere also very high. Invercargill showing a percentile of 90, Otautau 80. Wyndham 70, Milton 75, and Dunedin 65. But in such districts as Oantaru, Lawrence, Kurow and Roxburgh, whilie are grazing or fattening areas, the percentage varies from 2 to 10. The figures show conclusively that this extensive slauglitering is a short-sighted policy.