Animal Industry in Palestine before 1948 (Nakba), British Mandate: A Survey of Palestine: Volume I - Page 331. Chapter IX: Agriculture: Section 2: Animal Health and Produce.(a) Animal Health : Poultry Diseases

CHAPTER IX.

POULTRY DISEASES.

40. Fowl pox, fowl typhoid, fowl cholera, coccidiosis and salmonellosis, the latter particularly affecting chicks, ducklings, turkey poults .and rabbits, are all prevalent throughout Palestine •and frequently cause extensive outbreaks with considerable •n:i:ortality. In recent years there has been a marked increase in the number of outbreaks of fowl plague which have caused much interference with the poultry trade due to the necessity of strict •control of movement.

41. During the current year a serious epidemic of Newcastle disease has swept through the country and caused heavy losses in poultry. Almost half a million birds have either died or have to be slaughtered in order to minimize losses. A vaccine reported to have given good results in India has recently been received and some (fifty thousand birds have already been vaccinated. To date the results are encouraging and it is hoped this method will prove successful in controlling further spread of this disease.

(b) The animal industry.

42. The role played by animal industry in the rapid and progressive development of Palestine has been one of the greatest importance. During the war, as imports of food animals and poultry, frozen and canned meats, eggs, dairy products and other animal produce gradually decreased, so did the importance of this industry become more and more apparent, and its contribution to the welfare of the country during this period has. proved of inestimable value.

43: The animal population of Palestine in accordance with data collected at the census carried out in 1_942-43 is shown hereunder :-

Arabs Jewish
1943 19-42
Cattle 219,400 28,400
Sheep over 1 year 224 ,900 19,100
Goats over 1 year 314,600 10,800
Camels 33,200
Horses 16,900 2,200
Mules 7,300 2,500
Donkeys 105,400 2,300
Pigs 12,100
---
Total 933,800 65,300 Comparison of these figures with those of the 1937 census shows an increase of 70,000 head of cattle and 50,000 sheep. •The present normal increase is estimated at 10 per cent. per annum.

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