ENG-1957 — Page 134

PRIMARY PRODUCTION AND MARKETING

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local pork production totalled 226,940 carcases which repre- sented 31% of the pork consumption of the Colony. Imports of cattle and pigs were mainly from China with smaller numbers arriving from Thailand, Taiwan and Cambodia. The average monthly total of animals slaughtered rose from 130 cattle and 3,358 pigs in 1955-6 to 305 cattle and 5,281 pigs. Among inedible livestock products, hides, pig bristles and bone-meal formed the largest items and were imported from South-East Asia for re-export to Europe and the Middle East.

Field Work. The Animal Industries -Division of the Department continued to improve its organization, and peasant farmers are increasingly availing themselves of its advisory service. The Colony remained free during 1956-7 from Rabies and Rinderpest, but Foot and Mouth disease continued to occur in Quarantine Stations in cattle imported for slaughter. There were also twelve outbreaks of a mild type of this disease in cattle and pigs in the New Territories. Swine Fever was controlled by the use of vaccine, a total of 14,000 pigs having been inoculated.

The acceptance of preventative inoculation is best shown by the increase of vaccine used against Newcastle Disease in poultry, where 2,262,500 doses of Ranikhet vaccine were imported compared with 732,550 doses during 1955-6. The Diagnostic Laboratory is well established and, in addition to its diagnostic service, is producing lapinized Rinderpest vaccine for use in the Colony. Extensive cross-breeding and feeding trials are in progress using exotic and local pigs, and herds of exotic pigs are maintained to produce stock for distribution to selected farmers. During 1956-7 the Quarantine Service handled 77,939 cattle, 730,567 pigs, 11,266 goats and 792 sheep.

FISHERIES

Marine fish is the main primary product of Hong Kong, and the fishing fleet is the largest of any port in the Colonies.