K 86
The figures for Aberdeen and Shaukiwan are got from the contractor.
The following Table shows numbers of animals slaughtered in the Colony during the past ten years:-
Year. Cattle. Sheep and Goats. Swine. 1899, 23,582 17,353 156,292 1900, 23,939 18,364 165,760 1901, 24,938 18,544 172,205 1902, 25,669 19,591-8 20,780 176,803.4 202,495 1903, 28,335 22,918 187,265 1904, 30,829 23,736 181,046 1905, 26,758 19,774 186,059 1906, 27,141 28,394-2 16,403 > 19,259-2 200,586) 191,809-2 1907, 27,631 206,124 1908, 29,612 18,279 18,104 185,231Dairies and Cowsheds.
A somewhat severe outbreak of Rinderpest occurred at the Dairy Farm Company's premises. In the beginning the type of disease was severe but a milder type prevailed later. Serum inoculations were carried out with fairly satisfactory results and a number of young stock were immunised against the disease by the simultaneous inoculation method. Toward the end of the year the disease again appeared and serum inoculations were again practised. The outbreak was not finished at the end of the year.
Foot and Mouth Disease broke out in Kennedy's Dairy and the Dairy Farm Company's premises at almost the same time. The type of the disease was very severe.
The Chinese dairies were free from epidemics.
Importation of Beef and Mutton.
The importations of fresh beef and mutton were respectively 338,270 lbs. and 301,139 lbs. This meat is imported from Australia by the Dairy Farm Company.
Inspection of Cattle Transports.
Under Ordinance No. 15 of 1903, 81 visits of inspection were paid to ships leaving the Colony with more than ten head of cattle on board. In 1907, 159 such visits were paid. The decrease is due to the fact that the importation of cattle into the Philippine Islands from Hongkong was for some time forbidden by the Philippine Government on account of disease. In connection with this matter I was sent down to Manila to make enquiries and see what could be done towards re-opening the trade. The regulations for the import of cattle into the Philippines were modified tentatively and subsequently further alterations were made with the result that the cattle export trade recommenced. Ultimately the cattle trade between here and the Philippines passed wholly into the hands of an American-Filipino syndicate who employ a veterinary surgeon of their own to inoculate all cattle against Rinderpest, and by the end of the year the trade had resumed its former dimensions.
New Territories.
Foot and Mouth Disease appeared in Sheung Shui and some of the neighbouring villages but soon died out. The Police endeavoured to restrict the movements of cattle as far as possible. The same disease also broke out among the draught bullocks of the Kowloon-Canton Railway at Fan Ling and Sha Tin. The disease was of a mild type and no deaths were reported.
Staff.
Kennedy Town-Inspector Watson was in charge throughout the year. Inspector Cotton returned from leave on the 2nd of January and relieved Inspector Hynes who reverted to the staff of the Medical Officer of Health.
Kowloon.-Inspector C. W. Brett was in charge of the Slaughter House and Depôt during the year.
ADAM GIBSON, M.R.C.V.S.,
Colonial Veterinary Surgeon.
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