Other formats

    TEI XML file   ePub eBook file  

Connect

    mail icontwitter iconBlogspot iconrss icon

The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 11, Issue 7 (October 1, 1936)

The Movement of Live Stock

The Movement of Live Stock.

Livestock handling provides profitable business for the Home railways. In a single year the four group railways transport over 10 ½ millions head of livestock, sheep and lambs constituting about two-thirds of this movement. The mountainous districts of Scotland, northern England and Wales are the principal rearing grounds where lambs are bred. These areas, however, do not provide extensive feeding-grounds, so the young sheep are moved by rail in large numbers to central and southern England to be prepared for market. Cattle, produced as “store” animals in Ireland and Wales, move later into central England for feeding. Pigs are bred and reared in all the principal agricultural districts.

For the conveyance of livestock by train, the Home railways have developed and maintain large numbers of specially constructed trucks. At-the, majority of stations, pens and other accommodation are provided. The whole of the livestock accommodation is most scrupulously cleansed and disinfected in accordance with the carefully detailed regulations of the Government departments. Unceasingly on the look-out for new ideas likely to prove of material advantage to the livestock trade, the Home lines some time ago successfully introduced a comprehensive insurance scheme for livestock in transit.

page 30