H.—29.

Following are the numbers of each class of animal slaughtered under direct inspection during the year ended 31st March, 1931 : Cattle, 259,804 ; calves, 549,836 ; sheep, 3,329,686 ; lambs, 8,065,960 ; swine, 428,345. The following table indicates the respective classes of premises at which these animals were slaughtered :—

Stock slaughtered at ordinary slaughterhouses during the year ended 31st March, 1931, was as follows : Cattle, 66,332 ; calves, 1,926 ; sheep, 234,266 ; lambs, 26,835 ; swine, 22,145. Carcasses of pork killed and dressed by farmers and sent into butchers' shops and small factories and examined by departmental officers numbered 29,010. In connection with the animals shown in the above tables as slaughtered at meat-export slaughterhouses, the following numbers are returned as having gone into consumption within the Dominion : Cattle, 33,772 ; calves, 8,566 ; sheep, 228,460 ; lambs, 89,060 ; swine, 28,205. Compensation paid for Stock and Meat condemned. Compensation to the amount of £17,225 13s. 6d. was paid out during the year for animals condemned in the field for disease under the provisions of the Stock Act, and £14,496 lis. lid. for carcasses or parts of carcasses condemned for disease on examination at the time of slaughter at abattoirs, meat-export slaughterhouses, &c., under the provisions of the Slaughtering and Inspection Act. Impost ation op Stud Stock from Abroad. The prohibition imposed on cattle, sheep, and swine from the United Kingdom as a precaution against the entry of foot-and-mouth disease still exists, and the only countries from which stock may be imported subject to the regulations are : Cattle from Tasmania, Canada, and the United States (with the exception of California), and swine from Australia (with the exception of Queensland and Western Australia), and Canada, and sheep from Australia (with the exception of Queensland and Western Australia). A prominent feature was the heavy importation of pedigree cattle in comparison with former years. The following imported animals were placed in quarantine during the year for the respective periods required : Horses, 7 ; cattle, 87 ; sheep, 9 ; swine, 10 ; dogs, 27. Exportation op Stud Stock. During the year under review the following stud stock was exported : Sheep, 3,270; cattle, 69 ; swine, 10 ; horses, 4 (draught). There was the usual movement of racehorses to and from Australia! Dairy Inspection. Owing to the fall in the price of butterfat, a number of dairy-farmers in the vicinity of our cities and towns have directed their attention to supplying the population with milk, finding it more remunerative than taking their output to the dairy factories. The registration of such premises for the supply of raw milk for human consumption entailed a considerable amount of work on the part of the Dairy Inspector. There are now close on 5,000 dairies registered for supplying our cities, towns, and boroughs throughout the Dominion. Of these, 2,193 supply the four larger centres. During the last few years a considerable advance has been made with regard to the type of dairy shed being erected. The old type of shed, which on account of its construction was difficult to keep, in a sanitary condition, is fast disappearing, and new structures built on sanitary principles are being erected, with the result that the farmer is supplying a better commodity that what he was able to do previously and with less trouble to himself. With regard to the health of cows in registered dairies, that has been well maintained. AH animals are regularly inspected, and any suffering from disease are condemned or isolated. In addition to this the tuberculin test has been freely applied and all animals reacting thereto are forthwith destroyed, Further to this composite samples of the milk are taken from a number of herds and subjected to a biological test, and should there be positive results the various members of the herd are tested individually. The health of the herds and the standard of cleanliness of the sheds and surroundings are being well maintained.

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St0 ° k - Abattoirs. [ Bacon-factories. Cattle .. .. .. .. .. 135,481 124,323 Calves .. .. .. .. .. : 45,614 504,222 sliee P •• ■■ ■■ •• 692,866 2,636,820 Lambs .. .. .. .. .. 169,632 7,896,328 Swi ne .. .. .. .. .. 121,589 273.489 33,267