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(section IV), methods of eradicating bovine tuberculosis and other diseases of cattle (section V), and the compulsory pasteurisation of milk (section VI). In part 3 of our report we set out in detail our various recommendations, and these, with our principal conclusions, are summarised in part 4. Attached to our report are a number of appendices bearing on our inquiry, in which we discuss certain statistical points at greater length than would have been convenient in the main body of our report.
(d) Recent government policy and the committee's inquiry.
10. Since our committee was appointed, marketing boards have been set up under the agricultural marketing acts for the dairying industries in England and Wales and in Scotland. Very recently, also, the government has announced its decision to provide £750,000 spread over the next four years to assist in obtaining a purer milk supply. Thus, we have had to report at a time when the industry is undergoing a number of important changes. In preparing our report, however, we have confined ourselves to laying down the principles of a long-term policy; for it must be remembered that the control of disease can only be effected by the consistent application of a scheme designed to cover a long period. We do not feel called upon to offer suggestions for the adaptation of these principles to the immediate situation.
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PART 1.
THE PRODUCTION AND DISTRIBUTION OF MILK AND THEIR RELATION TO CATTLE DISEASES AND PUBLIC HEALTH.
1.--THE PRESENT SYSTEM OF MILK PRODUCTION AND SUPPLY.
(a) Milk production.
(i) The dairying industry.
11. In Great Britain there are* 2,768,000 cows and heifers in milking herds and, in addition, 481,000 heifers in calf but not in milk. These animals are distributed among over 200,000 herds and produced in 1930-31 1,425,500,000 gallons of milk. Some of these herds are entirely devoted to the production of milk, whether for sale in liquid or in manufactured form. Others are principally concerned with the raising of cattle for beef production, or for the replacement of breeding stock. There is also a large class of herds which undertake both of these functions. The value, on the farm, of the milk produced in Great Britain is, on the basis of a price of 102d.‡ a gallon, nearly £64,000,000. The value of milk at the point of consumption is considerably increased, perhaps even doubled. These particulars show that the dairying industry is one of great economic importance, and that the reduction of disease on any considerable scale would be a material economic gain to the nation.
(ii) The wastage of dairy cattle.
12. The useful life of a dairy cow, if she escapes the ravages of disease, should extend over at least eight or nine lactations. There are, indeed, instances of cows having very much longer milking lives. But a cow may normally be expected to show signs of deterioration at the age of eleven or twelve years. Of these eight or nine lactations, it is the later which are the more productive, for a cow does not generally attain her maximum yield until her fourth lactation. She should then maintain it for two or three years, and then yield a gradually diminishing quantity. We have reviewed with care the evidence that is available as to the average productive life of dairy cattle under the conditions prevalent to-day. § We are not able, on this evidence, to attach a precise figure to this average; but we have little doubt that upon extended inquiry it would be found to exceed four and fall short of five years, and it probably
* The figures are those for the 4th June, 1931.
+ Exclusive of milk fed to stock.
The price estimated by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries to
have been received by farmers in 1930–31.
§ For a fuller discussion of this question, see appendix 2.
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