FARM AND DAIRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 March 1922, Page 5

FARM AND DAIRY.

A STOCK CENSUS. 1 The tabulation of the agicultural and pastoral statistics of the Dominion is now complete, the work having been delayed by pressure consequent upon the taking of the census in April last. The Government Statistician (Mr. Malcolm Fraser) reports that as at January 31, 1921, there were 3,139,223 head of cattle in the Dominion. Of these pure-breds numbered 12.997 Jerseys, three Alderneys, 5091 Friesians, 2169 Ayrshires, 8585 Shorthorns —so far as pure-bred dairying animals were concerned. Crossbreds in which there were predominating strains were: Jerseys, 469,11)2; Fiesians 210,131; Ayrshires, 46,950; milking Shorthorns, 882,950; other crossbreds, principally .for dairying purposes, were 27,248.

Beef cattle-included pure-bred Devon, 23; pure-bred 5221; other pure-breds, 205. Cross-breds included 810,666 Shorthorn, 439,533 Herefords, 199,019 Polled Angus and 16,136 crossbreds, principally for beef. Of all cattle there were 37,837 purebred and 3,101,386 cross-bred. Auckland carried more cattle than any other district, Wellington being a close second.

Horses amounted to 9167 thoroughbreds; 146,311 draughts, 171,133 other breeds (for harness and saddle), and

10,648 ponies. There were but thirtyfive asses and mules in the country, most of which were in Hawke’s Bay. Pigs numbered 349,892, and Auckland had the biggest herds. Berkshires were the predominant breed. There were 21,903,392 sheep shorn during the season 1920-21. There have been substantial increases since the returns were taken in the number of sheep and lambs and dairy cattle.