A pan-African Veterinary Conference was held at Nairobi in Kenya Colony in the month of April, 1923. At this Conference the Sudan was represented by Captains B. A. Jarvis and R. IT. Knowles, Royal Army Veterinary Corps. Much interesting matter was discussed, and valuable decisions were arrived at. The full report of this Conference has not yet been received from the Kenya Government, but the report of Captains Jarvis and Knowles is appended to this report as Appendix 2.

QUARANTINE SECTION.

As mentioned in last year’s report, there was a complete sus¬ pension of the animal trade during the first two months of the year, namely October and November, owing to an outbreak of Foot and Mouth disease at Shellal Quarantine. This suspension greatly affected the numbers of animals exported, as, owing to it, the mer¬ chants engaged in the trade ceased buying when the embargo was removed, and subsequently exported only the animals they had on hand. The export of these animals lasted till the summer months, during which the trade always assumes only small proportions.

Buying again started freely in the month of August, and since then a regular supply has been maintained.

Owing to the Shellal Quarantine refusing to accept more than 800 cattle the despatch of cattle has been considerably controlled, but if this had not been done there would merely have been a vast accumulation of animals at this quarantine, with all the attendant dangers of serious outbreaks of disease. The reason that the cattle would have been held up in Shellal was one of demand.

With regard to Cairo, the trouble would appear to arise from the butchers, who refuse to slaughter more than a certain number of animals, in order to keep the price of beef at a high figure. This high price prevents the poor man buying meat, and so long as this attitude of the butchers is maintained there is not likely to be a greater demand. If the price of meat were considerably lowered there would be a much greater demand, with the slaughtering of a greatly increased number of animals, and a consequently large increase in the numbers exported from the Sudan. But the butchers have first of all to be persuaded to do more work for the same amount of money. This appears to be contrary to eastern human nature, so, l doubt, unless forcible measures are adopted, that there will be a very greatly improved export.