was obtained which should greatly increase the accuracy of the final result.

The schedule sent to all occupiers included questions as to the number of births and deaths of live stock on farms, and a very much larger number of returns on which to base estimates of births and deaths were received than at the two previous censuses in 1908 and 1913, when inquiries on this subject were only addressed to a very limited number of owners of live stock. In the present instance returns of births have been received from owners of 50 to 60 per cent. of the breeding stock, while owners of a rather larger proportion of the livestock gave returns of deaths. The results when compared with those of 1908 and 1913 show a lower birth rate for cattle and a rather higher one for sheep, while the death rates of both cattle and sheep show noticeable increases over the earlier figures. There is no reason to suppose that these differences represent any actual change either in the average birth rates or death rates; they are no doubt due to the very much larger number of returns obtained on this occasion, which give a more accurate view of the true position than those obtained in the earlier inquiries.

The calculations as to meat supplies for certain past years have, therefore, been revised on the assumption that the birth and death rates throughout should have been taken as those ascertained for 1924-1925, which were as follows:

*The stock to which these birth and death rates apply is the average of the numbers recorded in the agricultural returns at the beginning and end of any year, e.g., the average of the numbers on June 4th, 1924 and 1925, except that in the case of sheep the birth rate applies to the number of breeding stock enumerated at the end of the year.

the resulting figure is subtracted the number of cattle and calves under two years old at the following census to give the slaughter of calves in the year. The average dressed carcase weight of veal calves is estimated at 87 lbs.

Mutton and Lamb. -To the total number of sheep and lambs at one census is added the births before the next census, estimated at 118 per 100 ewes enumerated at the latter census and a deduction is made for deaths during the twelve months estimated at 7 per cent. of the average number of sheep and lambs at the two censuses. From the resulting figure is deducted the number of sheep and lambs enumerated at the end of the period and imports of store sheep are added to arrive at the total slaughter. The average dressed carcase weight is estimated at 52 lbs.

Pig Meat.-The method of calculation in the case of pigs is the same as for sheep except that births are calculated on the average number of sows at the censuses at the beginning and end of the twelve months. Births are estimated at 10 8 per sow, and deaths at 7 per cent. The average dressed carcase weight is estimated at 160 lbs.

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The average weights of the dressed carcases ascertained in connection with the present inquiry are also founded upon a much broader basis than in any earlier inquiry. Actual carcase weights were obtained from butchers in respect of over 200,000 cattle and calves, about 700,000 sheep and lambs, and 700,000 pigs, and the returns were well distributed throughout the country. The results may consequently be regarded with a greater degree of confidence than was possible with the figures used in earlier calculations of the home-produced meat supply, with the possible exception of the estimates made during the period of food control. The estimates made during the control period, however, are useless for the purpose of estimating carcase weights and meat supplies during either earlier or later years, owing to the substantial reduction in average weights caused by the abnormal conditions of the times.

It was evident shortly after the termination of food control that the return toward more normal conditions of feeding and slaughter of stock had not entailed a return to the pre-war average carcase weights of fat cattle and sheep slaughtered. Even before the war there was evidence that the earlier age at which animals were brought to maturity was responsible for a gradual decline in carcase weights.

The dressed carcase weights as ascertained in 1925 in respect of England and Wales were as follows: Cattle, 628 lbs. ; calves, 87 lbs.; sheep, 60 lbs. ; lambs, 39 lbs. (average sheep and lambs, 52 lbs.) and pigs, 160 lbs., as compared with the following figures in 1908, which, however, were applicable to Great Britain: Cattle, 672 lbs. ; calves, 98 lbs.; sheep, 67 lbs.; lambs 38 lbs.; and pigs 160 lbs.

In the following tables are shown the estimated number of animals sold off the farms of England and Wales for slaughter and the quantity of meat provided by these animals in the five years 1908-09 to 1912-13, and in each year since 1920-21. The birth rates and death rates and average dressed carcase weights used in previous calculations of the meat supply have been revised* in the light of the more extensive information obtained in 1925. It should be noted, however, that no figures relating to England and Wales alone have hitherto been published.

*The birth and death rates as ascertained in 1925 have been used for pre-war years, and the average dressed carcase weight of sheep and lambs in pre-war years has been reduced from 61 lbs. to 56 lbs.

ESTIMATED NUMBER OF ANIMALS SOLD FOR SLAUGHTER OFF THE FARMS OF ENGLAND AND WALES IN CERTAIN YEARS.*

* No account is taken in these figures of the trade in store stock between England and Scotland. The figures include, however, Irish and Canadian store stock fattened in this country. It is estimated that about 25 per cent. of the cattle fattened in this country are Irish and about per cent. Canadian. The number of Irish store sheep and pigs imported is unimportant.

ESTIMATED MEAT PRODUCTION IN ENGLAND AND WALES IN CERTAIN YEARS.

The average beef production in England and Wales during the last five years is some 17 per cent. less than in the five years ended 31st May, 1913. To a certain extent this is due to the practice of slaughtering cattle at an earlier age, resulting in an average carcase weight which is 6 per cent. less than before the war. Mainly, however, the reduction is due to the smaller number of animals slaughtered, which has fallen from about

1,380,000 in the five pre-war years to 1,225,000 in the last five years. This reduction is in part due to the fact that during these post-war years farmers have been steadily increasing their dairy herds at the expense of beef production. It is also partly due to increased slaughter of animals before they attain the age of one year. The number of calves slaughtered annually has increased from 536,000 to 785,000 between the pre-war and the post-war quinquennial periods, largely owing to the increased dairy herds and consequently increased births, but also to a larger proportion being slaughtered as calves, instead of being kept until they become beef cattle. In spite of a decline of about 11 lbs. per head in the average carcase weight of calves between the pre-war and post-war periods the production of veal in England and Wales is estimated to have increased by about 140,000 cwt. per annum, or about 30 per cent.

As regards mutton and lamb, the average annual production has fallen by 1,470,000 cwt., or about 38 per cent., as compared with pre-war, of which about 7 per cent. is due to a reduction in the average weight of the carcase, while the remainder of the decline is caused largely by the reduction in sheep flocks, resulting in fewer births and a smaller potential meat supply. At the same time it should be noted that during the past five years the number of sheep in England and Wales has increased by 2,590,000, nearly one-half of the increase being in ewes for breeding. This process of rebuilding the flocks must result in increased production of mutton in subsequent years.

The production of pigmeat varies considerably, but on the average there is little difference between the pre-war and postwar periods. But here, again, the pig population increased by 650,000, or over 32 per cent., between 1920 and 1925. In the year 1924-25 the production of pigmeat was abnormally high owing to the fact that the number of pigs in June, 1924, reached the very high figure of nearly 3 million, while there was a reduction of 580,000 by the following June.

If the estimated weight of the meat of various kinds is added together then the average production in the five years 1908–09 to 1912-13 was 17,593,000 cwt., while the average production in the five years 1920-21 to 1924-25 was 14,912,000 cwt.-a fall of 15 per cent. During this period the population of the country was increasing so that the supply per head of English meat of one kind or another fell from 55 lbs. per head in the earlier period to 44 lbs. per head in the past five years—a reduction of 20 per cent. This is a very striking decline, particularly when the potentialities of the home market are taken into account. More favourable results would, it is true, be obtained by taking the single year 1924-25, but, as explained above, this was an exceptional year as regards the production of pigmeat. There has,

however, been a steady increase in the total production of meat since 1920-21.

2. Milk and dairy produce.-The Agricultural Schedule of 1925 contained a request for information as to the quantity of milk* produced and sold, the amount of butter and cheese made and sold, and the quantity of cream sold. More or less complete particulars were furnished by persons owning something like one half of the cows in the country, and on the basis of the sample thus obtained an estimate has been made of the total production of the country. The very large number of definite statements by producers provide a valuable foundation for this estimate, but, owing to the fact that nothing like complete details were obtained, it cannot claim to be anything more than an approximation based on extensive data.

A characteristic feature of dairying in England and Wales is the production of milk for sale as liquid milk as distinct from mixed dairying, where some of the milk may be sold and the remainder made into butter or cheese, or where cheese-making may be practised in the summer and milk sold in the winter, or where the making of both butter and cheese may be carried on and the proportion of milk sold may be quite small. In any of these latter cases the method pursued may vary at different times of the year, whereas in the former case the whole of the milk produced is sold all the year round. These two classes of dairy farming generally imply differences in the dairy herd which are important in considering the milk yield. On purely "milk" farms-that is, farms where all the milk produced is sold all the year round-heavy milking breeds or types are kept, cows are usually bought in to replace those going dry, and quite commonly no calves are kept. On other farms where the sale of milk is not so important a source of income, comparatively large numbers of calves may be reared and the cows may be of beef breeds. The average milk yield per cow or per head of the dairy herd (cows and heifers in milk or in calf) is consequently apt to be very different on the two types of farm, the "milk" farm being much higher as a maximum milk production is the object in view. The difference is shown by the fact that the average quantity of milk returned in the census of 1925 as produced from 574,000 cows on " milk" farms amounted to 468 gallons per head for the whole of England and Wales, whereas the milk returned as produced from 214,000 cows on produce" farms (i.e., farms making butter, cheese, &c.) only averaged 356 gallons per head for the year. At the same time

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* Exclusive of milk fed to calves and pigs. It has been estimated in recent years that such milk represents nearly 10 per cent. of the actual total production, but the proportion varies considerably in different districts; in Wales the proportion fed to calves and pigs is estimated at between 15 and 20 per cent.

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