13

H.—29

As she did not respond to this treatment the administration of medicine by the mouth was commenced, and after twenty-three days' treatment a marked improvement was noticeable. Dairy cows : Quite a fair proportion of the cows now milking have successfully gone through two seasons without special treatment, receiving just hay and turnips. Any that showed any symptoms of the bush sickness were quickly brought around by dosing with citrate of iron and ammonia. If the cows are allowed to go on without treatment until the sickness is in an advanced stage it will take much longer to effect a complete recovery. Crops : .During the season 20 tons of meadow hay was made, this being in first-rate order. This hay, at the time of stacking, was treated with a solution of iron ammonium citrate and molasses, which liquid was sprayed on with a Vermorel knapsack sprayer. A small quantity of hay treated as above was fed out to three head of cattle last season, with satisfactory results. If this method proves a success in the ensuing season it will be quite a satisfactory method for any farmer to follow. Experiments are being continued in the direction of ascertaining the manner in which the iron deficiency can be remedied under ordinary farm conditions, so that the stock may obtain the benefits to be derived from its use in a manner within the means of the dairy-farmer or grazier. As mentioned in the report of the Overseer, the spraying of the hay with a solution of iron and ammonia citrate has been tried and gives very promising results, and if the further trials continue to be effective a means of overcoming one of the great difficulties will have been discovered. Such treatment, combined with top-dressing of the pastures judiciously with sulphate of iron, may considerably reduce the loss now experienced in the affected country and bring into profitable use country now unproductive. Live-stock Statistics. Sheep. —The statistical returns as at the 30th April, 1924, again indicated a further improve ment in the sheep position, an increase of 694 337 sheep being recorded, bringing the total to 23,775,776. The increase in the number of breeding-ewes was not, however, in the same proportion as in the previous year, when the increase was the very substantial one of 566,180, but it is satisfactory that this increase was not only maintained but added to by 13,094. With the high prices ruling for mutton and lamb during the past few years, there is always a tendency to send in for slaughter animals that should be retained for breeding purposes to maintain the flocks, and it is a matter for con gratulation that the temptation has been resisted to the extent it has. No doubt, however, the high price of woo! has had a counteracting affect. The figures for the past five years are shown in the table hereunder :—

Cattle. —A further increase in the number of dairy cows and heifers, and also in the numbers of other cattle, as compared with the previous year, is revealed in the statistics collected in January, 1924. The numbers if the respective classes are shown in the following table : —

Swine. —A further increase has taken place in the numbers of swine in the Dominion as at January, 1924, the figures being 414,271 —an increase of 13,382 on the previous year. Horses. —The enumeration of horses as taken in Janua.ry, 1924, shows a further small decrease of 388 on the previous year's figures. The 1924 figures show 330,430 horses in the Dominion, the decrease being indicative of the further utilization of motor traction in place of the horse. Slaughter of Stock for Export. The export season opened early, with prospects exceedingly bright for both mutton and lamb, and also more promising for beef, and conditions have continued favourable, with the result that, excepting lambs, which show a decrease of 286,488, the number of stock coming forward for slaughter has exceeded that of the previous year.

Stud and Flock Year. Rams (Two-tooth Breeding-ewes. , Other Sheep. Lambs. Total, and over). i I 1920 .. 306,583 J 1,568,549 5,723,459 6,315,915 23,914,506 1921 .. .. 322,144 12,147,788 4,980,618 5,834,481 23,285,031 1922 .. .. 322,072 12,496,054 3,687,672 5,716,461 22,222,259 1923 .. .. 330,055 13,063,003 3,369,559 6,318,822 23,081,439 1924 .. .. 322,814 13,076,097 3,853.482 6.513,386 23,775,776

1 Year. Bulls. Dairy Cows. j Other Cattle. Total. 1920 .. .. 57,999 893,454 2,150,492 3,101,945 1921 .. .. .. 59,348 1,004,666 2,075,209 3,139,223 1922 .. .. .. 59,086 1,137,055 2,127,082 3,323,223 1923 .. .. .. 60,154 1,248,643 2,171,897 3,480,694 1924 .. .. 58,934 1,312,589 2,192,074 3,563,497