6,000-Mile Cattle Airlift

Probably the longest cattle airlift ever was completed on December 5 when a special Qantas DC-3 freighter landed 11 calves at Port Moresby. They are part of a gift to the Australian government from the Government of Pakistan and are of three breeds—Schindi, Sahiwal and Milch Buffalo— and will be used by the CSIRO for experimental breeding purposes for New Guinea conditions.

The 6,000 miles journey that the calves made is shown on the map herewith and on the left is the special feeding, watering and exercising pen designed by Qantas engineers.

As such cattle diseases as rinderpest, foot and mouth disease, etc., are prevalent in some of the countries in which the

plane had to land it was decided that, if possible, the call would be kept in the plane and not permitted to land—her[?] the feeding pen.

The trip took five days—ls ports of call were made a[?] the calves did not come in contact with the ground at a[?] stage. On arrival they went into quarantine near P[?] Moresby while Qantas arranged for a second trip for [?] remaining 11 gift calves.