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Tuberculosis. —An increase in the incidence of this disease as found on inspection of slaughtered pigs has to be recorded. The extent to which tuberculosis was found in any degree in the carcass being 16-78 per cent. In the great majority of cases, however, the infection in the carcass is slight, being found only in the throat glands. Nevertheless, a serious view of the extent to which pigs are affected with tuberculosis must be taken. It is assumed that the chief initial source of infection in the pig is by means of milk, and the by-products of the dairy ; perpetuation of the disease amongst the pigs on a farm can occur through contaminated pastures, pig-runs, &c. When, the incidence of tuberculosis in pigs from any farm is found to be high, an examination of the cows becomes necessary, more particularly if skim-milk from home-separation be fed to the pigs. Attention to the sanitary conditions under which the pigs are kept must be included. The proper pasteurization of skim-milk on the farm before feeding to pigs is a matter that presents difficulty in accomplishment, the overcoming of which, however, would achieve a very important measure of control. During the year certain lines of attack on the problems of tuberculous infection in pigs have been commenced. In view of the danger from dairy-factory by-products —skim-milk and whey —a series of these are being collected for submission to the biological test for tuberculosis at the Wallaceville Laboratory. There is little risk from butter-milk, in view of the temperature at which the cream for butter-making is pasteurized, but whey is derived from milk that is only " flash " pasteurized to about 73° C. —too low to affect tubercle bacilli —and the cheese factories make butter for the first few weeks of the season from milk that is unpasteurized, their suppliers using the skim-milk from this source for pig-feeding. This matter is likely to be a highly dangerous source of infection, probably much more so than is whey. It is obviously essential to find out to what extent these wheys and skim-milks are infective. To date a large number of whey samples from the Wellington and Auckland Provinces has been tested at Wallaceville ; the skim-milk will be collected for testing at the commencement of the coming season. The final results should afford valuable information and assist in formulating a definite programme of attacking the problem of tuberculosis in pigs. Pasteurellosis and Suipestifer Infection. —These infections are responsible for a large proportion of cases of pleurisy and pneumonia in pigs. Field experience has shown that these conditions are associated with bad feeding and housing, and will disappear largely when these factors are attended to. Sarcoptic Mange. —The outbreaks of this skin disease in pigs during the year were not numerous and were quickly controlled by appropriate treatment. This disease is now well under control. Necrotic Ulceration of the Shin. —This condition still remains all too common, and is the cause of a large number of rejections on slaughter. Improvement in sanitation and the general conditions under which pigs are kept should go a long way in causing this trouble to entirely disappear. Malnutrition and Nutritional Paralysis. —On these conditions, Mr. Mcllwaine, Veterinarian, Palmerston North, writes : " Malnutrition of pigs is quite prevalent on many farms, especially after the weaning period. Overstocking is sometimes a cause, and irregular farrowing may also be responsible. There is still plenty of evidence of rickets and paralysis in pigs, though the latter has tended to disappear under the grazing system. Many sows are inadequately fed during the suckling period, and as a result are reduced to a low state. At the end of the dairying season many unfinished and intermediate pigs are sent into the works for slaughter." Meat Inspection. Following complaints from England during the previous year, that diseased meat was escaping detection at this end, the position was very carefully reviewed and it was realized that increases in staff were essential, particularly where pigs were killed for export. These increases were made, and a system was instituted whereby all pig carcasses exported as headless pigs were check inspected by an experienced officer before being passed for export. This system has worked well, and the incidence of disease in carcasses exported from the Dominion and re-examined in England has been negligible throughout the present season. Such cases as have been found there have been small lesions in remote parts of the carcass that could not have been detected at this end. The meat-inspection staff is deserving of high praise for the excellent work it has done in this connection. Their work has been well and conscientiously performed, though very long hours have often been demanded of them. Slaughter of Stock. The total numbers of stock slaughtered at registered premises were : Sheep, 2,674,554 ; lambs, 8,685,536 ; cattle, 563,488 ; calves, 1,074,656 ; swine, 994,839. The following table shows the stock slaughtered during the past year at freezing-works only, the previous year's figures being shown for comparison : —

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„. , Year ended Year ended T „ Stook - 31st March, 1936. 31st March, 1935. Increase. Decrease. Cattle .. .. .. 305,868 239,877 65,991 Calves .. .. .. 986,145 675,488 310,657 Sheep .. .. .. 1,882,446 2,569,573 .. 687,127 Lambs .. .. .. 8,564,482 9,562,797 .. 998,315 Swine .. .. .. 768,976 694,770 74,206