11

H.—29

Horses. —The enumeration of the horses in the Dominion taken in January, 1919, showed a, decrease of 10,412 as compared with the, previous year, the figures being 363,188 and 373,600 respectively. Slaughter of Stock for Export. The contract with the Imperial Government for the, purchase of all meat slaughtered for export remains in force until 30th June, 1920, at the schedule, of prices arranged in November, 1916, and a very large quantity of meat still remains in the, freezing-chambers, with little prospect erf obtaining a clearance before the commencement of the', next season's slaughterings. The termination erf the oontract and the difficulty of finding immediate shipping will necessitate the making of financial arrangements to meet the new position, and these may be expected to mean a marked increase on pre-war charges. As will be seen from the: following table, a, very substantial increase lias taken place in the number of cattle, sheep, and lambs slaughtered at me'at-experrt works (principally for export) during the twelve months ended 31st March, compared with the previous twelvemonth's slaughterings : — 31st March, 1920. 31st March, 1919. Increase. Cattle.. .. .. .. 256.459 218.871 37.588 Sheep.. .. .. ..4,658,897 3,690,152 968,745 Lambs .. .. .. 3,139,238 2,845,413 293,825 Several of the: freezing com panics found it necessary to provide: additional cold-storage' accommodation during the year. Two new meat-export slaughterhouses are about to be erected, both in the North Island. Inspection of Meat. The inspection ol all carcases slaughtered at meat-export slaughterhouses, abattoirs, and baconfactories was carried out satisfactorily, and now that all our troops have returned no further difficulty should be experienced in keeping a sufficient staff, to undertake this work. The following are the numbers of each class of stock slaughtered under direct inspection during the year ended 31st March, 1920 :— Cattle .. 359,173 Sheep .. 5,263.605 Swiue .. 115.225 Calves .. 32,069 Lambs .. 3,254,184 With the exception of swine, which again show a decrease in the number slaughtered, these figures easily constitute a, record for any erne ve:ar, the: increases on the corresponding period of last year being as follows : Cattle, 51,357 ; calves, 13,197 ; sheep, 1,093,081; lambs, 325,292 (1,418,373 in the combined sheep and lamb slaughterings). The following table indicates the destination of the dressed carcases, those animals slaughtered at abattoirs being almost wholly for local consumption, and those slaughtered at meat-export slaughterhouses being (except in the case of swine) intended principally for export : — ~ ~ . Meat-export ~ ~ . Abattoirs. ~. , , ,' Uacon-iactones. slaughterhouses. Cattle, .. .. .. .. 102.711 256.459 Calves .. .. .. .. 22,692 9,377 Sheep .. .. .. 604.708 4,658,897 Lambs .. .. .. .. 114,946 3,139.238 Swine .. .. .. .. 53.880 38,013 23,296 At ordinary slaughterhouses the stock killed was as follows: Cattle, 51,033; oalves, 2,302; sheep, 248,877 ; lambs, 26,417 ; swine, 25,520. In addition, 24,424 carcases of pigs killed and dressed by farmers under the exemption clause: of the Slaughtering and Inspection Act and sent in to butchers' shops and small bacon-factories were inspected by departmental officers. Compensation paid foe Stock condemned. During the year 4,148 head of cattle' were condemned and ordered to be- destroyed under the provisions of the Stock Act, and compensation to the amount of £15,034 (being at the rate of half the market value as fixed at the time of condemnation) was paid out for the financial year. Compensation paid for animals condemned on inspection at, the, time of slaughter, under the provisions of the Slaughtering and Inspection Act, amounted to £12,014, making the total compensation paid during the year under the Acts named £27,048, as compared with £22,438 for the previous year. Importation op Breuding-stock. Shipping difficulties and the high cost involved were undoubtedly again responsible for the numbers of stud stock imported not being greater than they were:. The following animals were imported and entered into quarantine as required under the regulations : Two trotting-stallions, five bulls, three rams, and four pigs (three sows and one boar). Inspection of Dairies supplying Milk to Towns. The inspection of dairy premises and herds supplying milk for town consumption has been carried out energetically during the year, those supplying milk to the cities and larger towns being necessarily given more frequent visits of inspection to ensure that, as far as possible, the utmost cleanliness is observed and conditions maintained in respect to each of the premises as is compatible with the: requirements of a good and clear milk-supply. The scarcity of cement has to some extent hampered the efforts of the. Inspectors in connection with the provision of concrete floors and drains, but on the whole the premises are, maintained in reasonably good condition and the Department's requirements attended to.