650 CATTLE AND DAIRY FARMING. 



the company ia making arrangements for regular shipments. The cost 

 of transportation from London to Auckland via the steamers of the 

 New Zealand Shipping Company and the Shaw, Saville, and Albion & 

 Co; is from $200 to $250 per head. The expense of feeding aboard ship, 

 l)oth on the San Francisco stew mers and the direct steamers to London, 

 is about 2 shillings (48 cents) per day. The food consists of 25 pounds 

 of oaten hay, 25 pounds of oaten chaff, and a little bran. 



The cost of transporting cattle from London to New Zealand has 

 been materially reduced since the establishment of a direct steamship 

 service with this colony, and I am informed that after the 1st of March 

 next the charges for transporting all kinds of live stock via the New 

 Zealand Shipping Company will be fully 25 per cent, less than the 

 present rates. 



G. W. GEIPPIN, 



Consul. 



United States Consulate, 



Auckland, 2f. Z., February 4, 1884. 



CATTLE STATISTICS OF NEW ZEALAND. 



The Shorthorn cattle give an annual average of 4,380 pounds of milk. In this cli- 

 mate thev will milk nearly the year round. Ten pounds of milk produce 1 pound of 

 cheese. Their Jive weight is, cow, 1,300 pounds; bull, 2,000 pounds ; ox, 1,400'poundB. 

 They arrive at maturity at four years. Tho average weight of meat at maturity is 

 800 pounds. The cows are red, roan, and white ; red and roans being preferred. The 

 pure breeds come from English stock, and are descended from cattle imported from 

 IJoUand during the last century by English breeders. 



'I'lie cattle are not housed in this country. They are mostly gress fed, with, in 

 winter, two feeds per day of oaten hay, turnips, or clover hay. The products are 

 handled mostly through storekeepers and commission merchants. This is caused by 

 there being no dairy farming on a large scale. 



The mean temperature of Auckland is 59.3; in winter, 65.4. Alluvial, loam, clay, 

 and sandy soils are found in New Zealand scattered over large arpas, and even in the 

 district of Auckland. Timothy is not much cultivated, but clover (principally red 

 and white) is largely cultivated. Rye grasses, perennial Italian and English. 



CATTLE IN TASMANIA. 



SEPOJZT BT CONSUL WMBSTEM, OF EOBAKT. 



With reference to cattle circular of 18th July and accompanying 

 memoranda, I have the honor to say with regret that, after consulting 

 the government inspector of stock, I find that no records are kept which 

 would enable me to supply you with reliable information. 



Comparatively little attention has been paid here to cattle breeding 

 , The total number of cattle in the island is 122,500 only. 



A. G. WEBSTEE, 



Consul. 

 CoN^TOATE OP THE United States, 



ffobart, ^ovpmjfcr 28, 1883, 



