For Breeder arid Dealer

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 140, 3 September 1927, Page 26

For Breeder arid Dealer

Algerian Stock Figures.—Algerian livestock statistics demonstrate that the sheep industry is regaining- some of the ground lost between 1013 and 1923. In the former year there were 8,811.000 sheep in Algeria while 10 years later the flocks had decreased to 5,397,000. By 192 0, however, the flocks had increased to 6,756,000. Russia Buying Woo!.—The Australian wool sales this season have shown an increased demand from Russian buyers. At the Brisbane sales last month the Soviet was reported to have been the biggest buyer. It is understood that Soviet officials proceeded to Australia to open an office for the purpose of conducting its own buying direct from the nroducers. Foot and Mouth Disease on the Continent. —Serious as is loot and mouth disease in Great Britain it is much worse on the Continent. The British outbreaks in 1926 totalled 204, whereas in Germany they are reported to have

j numbered 137,500, Netherlands 02,000, ; ! Denmark 53,000, France 48.900. and i Belgium 33,500. In most of the EuroI pean countries the recorded outbreaks j ; last year were considerably more than j 1 double those of 1925. The Empire's Pastures.—The import- : ance of tlie Empire Marketing Board’s j research activities to the economic ; development of livestock husbandry is i ; emphasised in several parts of its re- j cent report. The Imperial Economic \ Committee estimated that the grass j lands of the Empire support as many j 1 as 200,000,000 head of cattle and sheep respectively, and the total value of im- ! ports and livestock products from the ! Empire in 1924 was roughly three times as great as that of cereals and i cereal products. “There is perhaps no ; I branch of work.” the board states, ' “which has a more direct application to 1 ] ment than the study of the problems! ; of animal breeding.” Veal for Export.—Relative to the discussion which has taken place recently over the slaughtering of young i i.lves for export, the “Mercantile Gazette” says:—“lf it becomes known generally that we are shipping immature meat like this to England, how is it going to affect the good name of New Zealand meat on the market? We have learnt in the butter business not to antagonise the goodwill of the pur-

chaser, and at a big cost. Is it worth while jeopardising the good name of , all New' Zealand meat for this problematical addition of 1 per cent, to ! our meat exports? We very seriously ! doubt it. This meat would not be i allowed on the local market, as nothing j under a 601 b carcase may be sold for local consumption, which means a calf j about two months old. Also, we know ■ that many farmers would not feed their ! dogs on immature* meat like this owing 1 to its causing sickness and dysentery. We understand this meat would not ; find its way into Smithfield markets, ! but has certain special channels of j trade, but it gives our competitors an ; opening to discredit us very badly. "W bat would the effect be on our meat ; trade generally of a scare headline, New Zealanders export meat they will not : eat themselves,’ or something like ! that. vV e have not forgotten the j Chicago meat scandals yet. Australia, ! we are told, will not allow anything I under a fortnight old to be exported : recognising it is a dangerous trade.”