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The occasional outbreaks of foot and mouth disease disorganised the regular trade
in home-fed animals; it will be observed that there is a great decrease in the number of
calves killed at Aldgate. This is due in part to the high prices of these animals, also
of beef, and breeders are rapidly observing that it will pay them better to feed their
calves than to sell them, and judging from the present prices of meat and the prospects
for the future, they are justified in their opinion.
As formerly, tuberculosis is the principal disease rendering carcases or portions of
them unfit for human food. It will be observed that the number of bovine animals
slaughtered at Aldgate was 25,063, of these, 1,684 were found affected with tuberculosis
in a varying degree. On analysis of the figures it is found that the percentages under
the various headings were as follows:—
Bulls 255, or 10.11 per cent. affected.
Calves 23, „ 0.2 „ „
Cows 875, „ 39.9 ,, „
Heifers 22, „ 6.3 „ „
Oxen 509, „ 4.1 „ „
Analysis of the percentage of beef carcases and quarters destroyed as unfit for
human food due to tuberculosis show:—
Carcases. Quarters.
Bulls 5.26 per cent. 9.72 per cent.
Cows 83.55 „ 75.0 „
Heifers 4.0 „ —
Oxen 7.24 „ 15.26 „