H.—29.

18

The numbers of lambs slaughtered at freezing-works for the year under review was 6,031,011, an increase of 254,690. For the same period sheep slaughtered showed a decrease of 144,035. These figures do not represent a complete season's slaughtering, the period covered by the official year embracing part of two seasons, but as it closely coincides with the taking of the sheep returns the comparison is of value. The number of sheep as at 30th April, ] 928, is shown in the table hereunder, together with those for the previous four years : —

Cattle.—Coincident with the substantial increase in the sheep flocks an increase in the total number of cattle in the Dominion was shown in the statistics for 1928. While cattle other than dairy cattle show a decrease, dairy cows show the very satisfactory increase of 49,173 head. The following table shows the position under the respective classes, together with the previous four years' figures : —

Swine:—An increase of 66,755 in swine has taken place, the total number at 31st January, 1928, being 586,898. Horses. —After showing a steady decrease each year for some years past the 1928 returns show an increase of 3,442 horses, the total number as at 31st January, 1928, being 307,160. Slaughter op Stock. A good lambing was experienced and the season promised to be an early one, but subsequent weather conditions, while excellent from a dairy producer's point of view, were not favourable for fat-lamb production, and the numbers of lambs which came forward were not up to expectations. Nevertheless the numbers slaughtered for the twelve months ending 31st March, 1928, are in excess of previous years' killings, as will be seen from the tables given hereunder. The numbers of sheep slaughtered show a decrease, as do also cattle, but swine and calves show increases. Prices to producers have on the whole been favourable. The following table shows the stock slaughtered during the past year at freezing-works only. The previous year's figures are also shown for comparison : —

For further purposes of comparison the following table is given showing the killings of sheep and lambs at meat-export slaughterhouses over four periods—lst 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 decrease in slaughtering of sheep of 158,283, and a decrease in slaughtering of lambs of 418, for the period Ist October, 1928, to 31st March, 1929, compared with the same period for the year 1927-28.

Stud and Flock Year. Rams (Two-tooth Breeding-ewes. Other Sheep. Lambs. Total, and over). 1924 .. .. 332,814 13,076,097 3,853,482 6,513,386 23,775,776 1925 .. .. 355,579 13,715,223 3,947,429 6,529,724 24,547,955 1926 .. .. 370,535 13,948,252 4,292,056 6,294,036 24,904,993 1927 .. .. 388,274 14,831,730 3,906,665 6,522,347 25,649,016 1928 .. .. 396,351 15,534,051 3,893,774 7,309,634 27,133,810

I Year. Bulla. Dairy Cows. | Other Cattle. Total. 1924 .. .. .. 58,934 1,312,589 2,192,074 3.563,497 1925 .. .. .. 59,820 1,323,432 2,120,492 3,503,744 1926 .. .. .. 58,853 1,303,836 2,089,777 3,452,466 1927 .. .. .. 58,842 1,303,225 1,895,662 3,257,729 1928 .. .. .. 59,334 1,352,398 1,862,037 3,273,769

, Year ended Year ended T .. Sbock 31st March, 1929. 31st March, 1928. | Increase - Decrease. Cattle .. .. .. .. 165,643 220,831 .. 55,198 Calves .. .. .. .. 342,582 120,015 222,567 Sheep .. .. .. .. 2,156,034 2,300,069 .. 144,035 Lambs.. .. .. .. 6,031,011 5,776,321 254,690 Swine .. .. .. .. 270,084 259,114 10,970

Stock. 1925-26. 1926-27. 1927-28. 1928-29. ~ ~ | ~ Sheep .. .. .. 1,654,489 1,729,963 1,580,024 1,421,741 Lambs .. .. .. 3,574,508 3,806,498 4,093,750 4,093,332