Annual report of the Veterinary Department, Sudan Government.

  • Sudan. Veterinary Department.
Date:
[1926]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Annual report of the Veterinary Department, Sudan Government. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    18/46 (page 12)
    Importation of Animals. Apart from the importation of cattle from neighbouring terri¬ tories which was referred to in discussing the export trade, the only importations of interest from an economic point of view were Abyssinian mules. In February and March, 1926, some 189 mules were purchased by this Department at Gallabat at an average price of £e. 6 per head. • SECTION III. IMPROVEMENT OF LIVESTOCK. Cattle. It is regretted that, owing to the general scarcity of grazing and water in the central area of the Sudan, it was not found possible to hold cattle shows in 1925 or 1926. It is considered that by holding such shows the value of using carefully selected bulls would be demonstrated and the practice of doing so would be encouraged more effectively than by any other means at the Government’s disposal. The selected bulls which were sold in Kassala last year are reported to have done well and the owners appear to be very pleased with them. The estimate given in last year’s report of the average live weight of bullocks exported to Egypt appears to have been a low one. Batches of one hundred head of average export bullocks were weighed at quarterly intervals at Wadi Haifa during 1925 and 1926 when the highest weight recorded was 1,270 lbs., the lowest was 660 lbs. and the average was found to be 890 lbs. A young Shorthorn bull, purchased by the Government from the Duke of Westminster’s herd, was imported in October, 1925, and makes a very welcome addition to the dairy herd at Khartoum North. This bull and a Friesian bull kindly loaned by the American Mission at Gereif have so far bred nineteen heifer calves and twenty-four bull calves but, of the latter, only two are being retained in the herd. When the dairy herd was first started it consisted entirely of native cows and the average annual milk yield was little over ICO gallons per cow. A considerable amount of Egyptian blood and some Shorthorn blood has been introduced since then and the following statement will indicate the improvement that has taken place :— Calendar Year. 1925 .... 1926 .... No of cows Quantity of in milk. milk produced. Galls. 56 10,264 49 11,002 Average daily Yield per cow, Galls. 1.00 1.34 Only those cows whose milking period fell within the calendar year are shown above and the daily yield has been averaged over the milking period. The improvement in the milk yield for 1926 is attributable to the disposal of unprofitable animals and to some improvement in feeding methods. When the progeny of the pure-bred bulls enter the milking herd a very marked improvement in the milk yield should result.