Swaziland report / Commonwealth Relations Office.

  • Great Britain. Office of Commonwealth Relations
Date:
[1959]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Swaziland report / Commonwealth Relations Office. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    52/156 (page 46)
    the first time but, because of the long dry Winter, monthly production fell to 7,893 lbs. in September, the lowest since July, 1953. The total annual production which amounted to 594,643 lbs., also dropped below that of 1958 in consequence. The butterfat used in the production of butter came from three sources—Govern¬ ment depots supplied 396,046 lbs. and Swaziland farmers produced 41,548 lbs., whilst 48,583 lbs. were imported from the Union of South Africa by farmers in the Lake Chrissie area who found it more economical to send their butterfat to the Bremersdorp Creamery. On the other hand, 22,791 lbs. were exported to the Union of South Africa by farmers in s/outhern Swaziland who sent their butterfat to the nearest creamery at Piet Retief. The following table shows the production figures of the principal livestock products for 1959: Slaughter Cattle Slaughter Pigs Slaughter Sheep and Goats Hides (estimated) Skins (estimated) Butter Wool Bonemeal 49,509 head 173 head 292 head 58,800 pieces 20,900 pieces 594,643 lbs. 3,750 lbs. 176 short tons Hornmeal 2 short tons S^ughter cattle are exported to markets in Johannesburg and Dufban which are controlled by export quotas allocated by the Union Meat Industry Control Board. The main export routes; are through Golela to Durban and through Komatipoort and Brey- ten to Johannesburg. The numbers of cattle exported increased by 13.5% compared with those of 1958. The closure of the northern export routes led to an in¬ crease in the number'd of cattle exported through Brey- ten and Piet Retief and to the fact that the quota for the. Durban market was fully taken up during peak periods. Regular monthly cattle auction sales are held throughout the Territory and, in addition speculators, butchers and farmers also purchase a large number of cattle privately. Hides and skins are purchased by licenced buyers, many of whom travel around the Territory collecting these products which are all ex-