xiv PIGS, CATTLE, OSTRICHES 133 



Good bred pigs should in theory weigh 160-200 lb. 

 after eight months and be ready for the butcher, but 

 in practice another month or even more will probably 

 be found necessary. 



Pigs in the Protectorate may be said to be in the 

 main satisfactorily immune from disease. Naturally, 

 it could not be supposed that they could be so entirely; 

 and, unfortunately, in May, 1907, the first outbreak 

 of swine fever occurred. There seems little doubt 

 that the disease was contracted from wart-hogs or 

 bush pigs, more probably the latter. Since that time, 

 although the disease has not been at all widespread, 

 there have been several outbreaks. Scientific in- 

 vestigation has taken place, and two or three con- 

 clusions have been arrived at. It is, unfortunately, 

 certain that at present the disease is more virulent 

 than in England, only one animal out of 300 attacked 

 in a series of outbreaks having been saved. It is 

 also probable that immunity to ordinary swine fever 

 does not imply immunity to the East African variety. 

 This latter fact necessitates the establishment of a 

 new serum for inoculation. In the meanwhile, as 

 observed, outbreaks are by no means widespread, and 

 there is no reason why, with proper precautions, any 

 such should occur. The greatest care must obviously 

 be taken to prevent the contagion being acquired 

 from wild swine, which contagion is probably usually 

 passed when herds are grazing round the edges of 

 forest. Should an outbreak occur, there remain 

 nothing but the usual and Spartan measures — All 

 ailing animals slaughtered and their carcases burnt ; 

 also all litter and houses inhabited by the same. It is, 

 indeed, probably better and cheaper in the long run to 

 slaughter all animals which have been in contact with 



