G42 CATTLE AND DAIRY FARMING. 



AUSTRALASIA. 



THE CATTLE OF NEW ZEALAND. 



JtEPOBT BY CONSUL GRIFFIN, OF AUCKLAND. 



In replying to the "cattle" circular of July 18th, 1883, 1 have the 

 honor to return herewith the forms (inclosure No. 1) transmitted to me 

 in November last, and which I have filled up with such information as 

 was possible for me to obtain concerning the cattle in the provincial 

 district of Auckland. I have further the honor to state that the steady 

 annual increase in the exports of New Zealand frozen meat and dairy 

 produce, together with the favorable condition of the country, it being 

 well grasSed and watered, have done much to improve the condition of 

 cattle iu this colony. 



PASTUEB LANDS. 



Every year new lands are being fenced in and sown with English 

 grasses. The total number of acres in grass in New Zealand in 1883, 

 including land in hay after having been broken up, was 2,018,964 

 against 1,771 ,875 for 1882, an increase of 247,180. If, however, the land 

 in oats, barley, and wheat were added, the number of acres in green 

 crops for 1883 would amount to nearly 4,500,000. The value of grass 

 and clover seeds imported annually into the colony is something over 

 $500,000. 



Considerable qiiantities of grass seed, principally timothy and clover, 

 come direct fi'om the .United States, and also small quantities of the 

 variety called alfalfa. Both the volcanic and light sandy soil of this 

 colony produce rich, 8uccule;nt grasses, well adapted for fattening cat- 

 tle without any extra food. Second-rate pastures will generally yield a 

 better profit for the dairy, together with the breeding of cattle and ro- 

 tation of crops in connection with grazing. The greater portion of sec- 

 ond-class pastures require breaking up after grazing from three to four 

 years. Dry, hilly laud, and what may be termed as third class, is better 

 adapted for sheeii. 



NUMBER OP SHEEP AND CATTLE IN NEW ZEALAND. 



Tlie sheep industry is by far the most important one in the colony; 

 but I have observed that the increase in the number of sheep during 

 the last decade has not anything like as great pro rata as that of cattle. 



The number of sheep in New Zealand in 1884 is estimated at 13,113,- 

 412. In 1874 it was 11,704,883, an increase of only 1,408,567. In 1874 

 the number i>f cattle in Now Zealand was 494,917, and now it is about 

 1,000,000. The census for cattle is talcen iu New Zealand every three 

 years. The last (;eusus occurred in ISSl. It will be taken again in 

 April next, and until then the number of cattle in New Zealand for 1884 



