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The significant increase in the number of Freisian cattle being
reared for beef has perhaps been the most striking change in farming over the last ten years. The Freisian cow is already well known
for its exceptionally high milk yield, producing, as it does, more
than half the nation's milk requirements.
Judging from the number of Freisian steers presented for
slaughter at Plumstead during the year, it seems that this breed is
to become the most popular dual-purpose breed of cattle, if not
already so, both in the traditional and intensive fields of beef
production.
The general improvement in animal health, mainly brought
about through the completion of the tuberculosis eradication
scheme in 1960, has been satisfactorily maintained during the year.
Tuberculosis in cattle is becoming extremely rare—only 11 localised
lesions being recorded following the post mortem examination of
the 9,627 cattle which were slaughtered. During a similar examination of more than 58,000 pigs, 298 localised lesions resembling
tuberculosis were found, mainly in the heads of pigs. One bovine
carcase was condemned because of a gangrenous condition in the
iliac region complicated by acute nephritis. There were 45 whole
pigs rejected for a variety of reasons. Of this number, 17 were
found to be dead on arrival at the slaughterhouse or otherwise
died in the lairage. The remainder were rejected mainly because
of some pathological change representing a hazard to human health.
The reasons for rejection were as follows: —
Multiple Abscesses 15
Multiple Bruising 2
Fevered 7
Pathological Emaciation 4
Observers in different parts of the country have drawn attention to the marked increase in tail injury among pigs, probably
due to biting and the growing incidence of multiple abscesses in
the pigs so affected, particularly so in the spinal processes. The
observations and experience at this slaughterhouse in this matter
support and confirm the observations made elsewhere. Distomatosis
(liver fluke) was the most prevalent condition met with in cattle,
whilst in pigs pneumonia and, to a lesser extent, ascaridae (worm)
infestation were the conditions most frequently encountered. The
conditions mentioned accounted for most of the 30 tons of offal
rejected during the year.
Arthritis in the knee and hock joints of pigs is still very
common and shows no decline in the frequence, it is observed.