fluctuations are much less pronounced. On the other hand, other 
cattle of 2 years and upwards, after rising slowly but with 
substantial variations until 1892, have since declined. This 
decline appears to be the result of the practice of bringing cattle 
to maturity at an earlier age. The numbers of cattle of under 
2 years show the widest variations and are responsible for the 
greater part of the periodic fluctuations in total numbers. On 
the whole, the numbers of young cattle advanced up to 1918 
more substantially than those of the dairy herd. The wholesale 
slaughter of calves towards the end of food control after the 
war brought about a sharp decline between 1918 and 1920, which 
was reflected in the numbers both of dairy cows and of older 
cattle, but the numbers of all classes are now showing an upward 
movement. 
Although the number of cattle increased more or less steadily 
from 1867 onwards, both actually and also in relation to the total 
cultivated area, the increase failed to keep pace with the growth 
of population. In the following table are shown the number of 
cattle per thousand acres of cultivated land and per thousand 
head of population. 
[867-76 
1877-86 
1887-96 
1897-06  - : 
1907-14 (8 yrs.) - 
1915-24* - A 
1925 j 
Nos. of cattle per 
1,000 acres of land 
under cultivation. 
Cows and 
heifers in 
milk or 
in. calf. 
Other 
cattle. 
Total. 
68:0 
70-1 
75-6 
79-7 
86-4 
94-6 
105-3 
104-1 
109-4 
115-5 
121-7 
127-0 
129-2 
124.0 
172: 1 
179-5 
191-1 
201-4 
213-4 
223-8 
290.93 
Nos. of cattle per 
1,000 of population. 
Cows and 
heifers in 
milk or 
in calf. 
Other 
cattle. Total. 
77-7 
73-6 
71-8 
66-9 
65-6 
69-0 
689. R 
119-0 
114-9 
109-6 
102-1 
96-5 
94-2 
[K.17 
196: 7 
188-5 
181-4 
169-0 
162-1 
163-2 
158: 5 
* In the years 1915 to 1920, inclusive, the population figures exoluded 
non-civilians. 
Between the first and last decades the number of dairy cattle 
per 1,000 acres of cultivated land rose by 39 per cent. while other 
cattle rose by 24 per cent. On the other hand, in relation to the 
population, other cattle and dairy cattle declined during this 
period by 21 per cent. and 11 per cent. respectively. This 
would account in some measure for the increasing dependence of 
the country on imports of beef and dairy products. 
The number of cattle per 1,000 acres of crops and grass in 
each county is shown in Map XI.