§ Sir E. BEAUCHAMPasked the Minister of Agriculture if he can give the number of cattle in Great Britain at the time Canadian store cattle first came, and the year in which that happened; the number of cattle in Great Britain in the years 1892 and 1921; and the total number landed between 1982 and 1921 inclusive?
Sir A. BOSCAWENImports of cattle from Canada into the United Kingdom were officially recorded for the first time in 1873. The total number of cattle in Great Britain in that year was 5,964,549. In 1892 and 1921, the numbers were 6,944,783 and 6,659,859 respectively. The 1073W total number of cattle imported into the United Kingdom from all countries in the thirty years 1892–1921 was 9,324,937. With regard to the number of cattle in 1892, I may point out that this was the highest recorded up to that time, the annual average for the five years 1887–1892 being 6,515,000. There was a decline in 1893 and 1894 after which there was a steady rise up to 1919, the number that year being 7,424,000. In the following year there occurred an excessive slaughter of calves due chiefly to restrictions and conditions arising out of the War, and this accounts for the reduction in the numbers in 1920. But the position is now improving again, and there was a large increase in the number of calves reared last year.