Le Nord : revue internationale des Pays de Nord - 01.06.1942, Page 120

108 LE NORD
areas in west Finland where the drought reduced the quantity
of fodder crops. The possibilities for the import of concentrated
cattle food are very limited owing to the war, therefore the con-
ditions for milk production in particular will be bad during the
winter season 1941—42. The standard of Finland’s livestock fell
considerably during the Finno-Russian winter war 1939—40 and
afterwards the decrease in numbers was notable because of the
ceded areas. The poor fodder crop further decreased the livestock
and the second Finno-Russian war 1941 has made the situation
still worse. The following numbers show the decrease:
1939 1941 1942
September March March
1000 head 1000 head
Horses 386,1 356,2 355,0*)
Cattle 1938,4 1579,4 1480.0
Milch-cows 1377,8 1135,4 1030.0
Pigs 519,2 254,1 210.0
Sheep 999,9 716,4 610.0
Poultry 2779,7 1962,5 1400.0
All the domestic animal groups show a tendency to decrease.
The cattle and pig stocks have decreased considerably. The horned
cattle stock fell continuously after the war of 1939—40 and
during 1941 on account of the poor fodder crop and the greater
demand for meat. It was necessary to reduce the cattle stock
considerably in Autumn 1941 especially in the areas affected by
the drought. The number of milch-cows fell by nearly 30 per
cent. in two years. In reality, the decrease was greater, because
the stock of pigs in Autumn 1941 was scarcely half that of 1939-
The decrease in sheep amounted to some 30 per cent. according
to the statistics. Poultry showed the greatest percentage of de-
crease because the stock in Autumn 1941 was estimated at nearly
60 per cent. lower than that of 1939. The decrease in horses has
not been very great; it would be somewhat greater but for those
taken during the war in 1941.
The development of Finland’s self-sufficiency in food-stuffs
is shown in the following table (1/9—31/8):
Harvest year Home production of food-stuffs in
cereal units % of the consumption
1929/30—33/34 76,9
1934/35—38/39 80,1
1939— 40 76,8
1940— 41 74,3
Estimated figures.