ENG-1964 — Page 87

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PRIMARY PRODUCTION

ANIMAL INDUSTRIES

Since there is insufficient land for extensive grazing, pigs and poultry are the principal feed animals reared in the Colony and cattle are mainly used for draught purposes.

The pigs of Hong Kong are mostly crosses of local animals with exotic stock, and pure strains of the Chinese type are becoming less common. The Agriculture and Fisheries Department maintains the main herds of pure exotic strains-Berkshire, Mid-White, Large-White and Large-Black-and also herds of two Chinese strains for distribution to improve the Colony's pig stock, as well as for experimental purposes. Pig-keeping in the villages often follows traditional practice, but an overall improvement in manage- ment is taking place as a result of extension and advisory services. During the year the pig artificial insemination service was further expanded and over 3,422 sows were inseminated with a total concep- tion rate of 89.11 per cent and a first service conception rate of 74.56 per cent. In 1953 only 64,000 pigs of local origin were slaughtered in local abattoirs, compared with some 440,000 in 1964. The 1964 figure represented more than 20 per cent of the total number of pigs slaughtered. The value of pig production during the year amounted to some $48 million.

Many of the larger poultry farmers are now producing their own hatching eggs and this is important in helping to stabilize the industry which produced $32 million worth of poultry this year. In wetter areas ducks and geese are raised for home con- sumption and for export. The rearing of ducks and geese for the local market has become increasingly important in recent years and was worth about $8 million this year. Pigeon-keeping is now a thriving industry and prices in 1964 averaged $7 for a pair of squabs. The total value of squabs marketed during the year was estimated at $1,575,000. The most popular types of table birds are the White or Blue King crossed with the Homer.

Local brown cattle and buffaloes are kept for work purposes and surplus stock is sold for slaughter. The Chinese brown cattle are particularly well suited to the local environment and manage- ment. The dairy cattle in Hong Kong are mainly Friesians and are kept in isolation on one large farm on Hong Kong Island and in smaller farm groups on the outskirts of Kowloon and in the New