NEW ZEALAND’S FLOCKS.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 December 1921, Page 7

NEW ZEALAND’S FLOCKS.

THE DECLINE IN SHEEP. | CONTP.IBUTING CAUSES. EXPANSION OF DAIRYING. The Minister for Agriculture, the Hon. W. Nosworthy, in his annual report, makes interesting reference to New Zealand flocks and herds. 1 “Several noteworthy features,” he says, “attach to the livestock position. The 1920 enumeration of sheep disclosed a heavy decrease of nearly two millions in the country’s flocks, and this has been followed by a further substantial fall in the past year. Altogether in the last three years there has been a reduction of over three million head in our sheep stocks. This movement is ascribed to several contributing causes, among which may probably be included over exportation in connection with the frozen meat trade of late years. Thus, for the 12 months enejed'April 30 last, the mutton and lamb shipped totalled approximately no Jess than ten million carcases, while in the same period of 1919-20 the number was also high, some eight million carcases. In these exports, particularly as regards the first period specified, were included war and postwar accumulations. Nevertheless depletion of sheep flocks is also indicated by the figures. “A large increase recorded in dairy cattle corresponds with the steady expansion of the dairy industry. The cow is no doubt in many places trenching on what was until recently regarded as mainly sheep country, this being another factor in the sheep shrinkage. One satisfactory feature in the 1921 sheep returns is a good increase in breeding ewes which should help toward restoring the former level of the flocks. By better farming the country should be capable of maintaining a full quota of sheep on a lesser area. “With regard to pigs, after a decline extending over several years, an upward movement seems to have become established. The statistics for 1919-20 showed a good increase, and this has been followed by another substantial increment for last season. It may be noted that this satisfactory development has coincided with the department’s special instructional activity in swine husbandry.”