26U 



Journal of the Departmekt op AoRicULTrRE. 



quantities exported (the bulk f^'oing to England and Egypt for 

 military purposes) assumed large proportions : — 



Tlie quantity exi)oited, however, does not represent the Union's 

 actual surplus, for numbers of cattle are imported into the Union from 

 adjoining territories as follows: — 19IG, 26,580*; I9I7, 53,410; and 

 1918, 50,053; an average of 43,348 liead per annum. In 1919 the 

 number introduced was 57,267. 



The class of export meat averaged about 150 lb. per quarter, or 

 600 lb. per head of cattle. At tliat rate (he quantity of beef exported 

 during the years 1916-18 would be equivalent to an annual average 

 supply of 46,442 head of cattle, exclusive of the following quantity 

 of fresh South African beef exported as ships' .stores: — 1916, 

 1,574,491 lb.; 1917, 2,744,415 lb.; 1918, 2,470,309 lb.; total, 

 6,798,215 lb. ; equivalent to 3777 head of cattle j^^r nnnam. In 

 1919 tliere were sliipped 1,954,319 lb., or 3257 hend of cattle. 



Summarized, the trade of 1916-19 was as follows: — 



The Actual Surplus of Beef. — This summary points, therefore, to 

 the conclusion that during the three years 1916-18 which herald the 

 beginning of the Union's meat export trade, the surplus of the 

 country's produce was comparatively small, being approximately at 

 the rate of 7457 head of cattle or 4,474,200 lb. of beef per annum. 

 In 1919, however, notwithstanding the prevalence of a .severe drought, 

 there was a surplus of some 20,476 head of cattle, equivalent to 

 12,285,600 lb. of beef, a marked increase on the average of the prior 

 three years. 



Ist .luly to-31st December only. 



t From 0\('rs".as onlv. 



