H.—29

Cattle.—-While the total number of cattle have decreased by 59,663, the number of dairy cows and heifers of two years of age and over have increased by 10,843. The following table shows the position under the respective classes, together with the previous four years

Swine.—An increase of 25,844 in swine has taken place, the total number as at January, 1925, being 440,125. Horses. —Horses have again shown a decrease, the 1925 figures being 326,830, a decrease of 3,600. Slaughter of Stock. The slaughtering season opened late owing to the extremely backward spring experienced generally. Last season's prices for fat sheep and lambs were not maintained, and opening prices for this season showed a tendency to further drop. They have, however, been fairly well maintained on a payable basis. Cattle-slaughterings have decreased owing to the low prices offering in the export market. Sheep-slaughterings also have decreased, but increased slaughterings of lambs more than made up for this deficiency. The following table shows the stock slaughtered at freezing establishments alone during the year, with the previous year's figures shown also : —

For purposes of comparison the following table shows the killings of sheep and lambs over four periods Ist October to 31st March in each year- as indicative of the slaughterings from the beginning of each season to 31st March : —

These figures show a decreased slaughtering of sheep of 167,112 for the period Ist October, 1925, to 31st March, 1926, compared with the same period of 1924-25, but an increase in lambs of 213,747 more than balances the aggregate figures. The following are the numbers of each class of animal slaughtered under direct inspection during the year ended 31st March, 1926 : — Cattle.. .. .. .. .. .. .. 364,-572 Calves.. .. .. .. .. .. .. 74.600 Sheep.. .. .. .. .. .. .. 2,804,772 Lambs . .. .. .. .. .. 5,140,443 Swine.. .. .. .. .. .. .. 329,990 The following table indicates the respective class of premises at which these animals were slaughtered : —

14

Year. Bulls. Dairy Cows. Other Cattle. Total. I l 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 1925 .. .. .. 59,820 1,323,432 j 2,120,492 3,503,744

cj. , Year ended ' Year ended T ,. Stock. , ,, , ino . Increase. Decrease. 31st March, 192b. | 31st March, 192o. Cattle .. .. .. .. 206,904 247,883 .. 40,979 Sheep .. .. .. .. 2,292,257 2,564,530 .. 272,273 Lambs.. .. .. .. 5,055,245 4,832,493 222,752 Calves .. .. .. .. 31,358 22,775 8,583 Swine .. .. .. .. 159,852 142,168 17,684

Stock. 1922-23. 1923-24. 1924-25. 1925-26. Sheep .. .. .. 1,244,490 1,462,128 1,821,901 1,654,489 Lambs .. .. .. .3,128,415 ! 3,492,004 3,360,761 3,574,508

Stock. Abattoirs. Q1 Meat-export Bacon-factories. {slaughterhouses. I I ' Cattle .. .. .. .. .. 157,668 206,904 Calves .. .. .. .. .. 43,242 31,358 Sheep .. .. .. .. .. 512,515 2,292,257 Lambs .. .. .. .. .. 85,198 5,055,245 Swine .. .. .. .. .. 127,216 159,852 42,922