GRAPHS MIS8031.CHT THROUGH MIS8034.CHT - AVERAGE AGE PER ANIMAL

For Arusha, we see an average age for the period of 9-10 years, with no seasonal cycle or change with time.

For Moshi, we see a move from 8 years average age to 9.5 years average age over the period 1992 - 1994, with no apparent seasonal cycle.

For Dar, we see average age move from 6.5 years in 1989 to 8 years in 1994; in the first few years we seem to see a double cycle each year, with an age peak at June and December. This could in fact be an unloading of older animals in June when the general condition of almost all animals is good, and again an unloading of older animals in December when there is a serious shortage.

Remember however that ageing is a very difficult and subjective process (possibly worse than grading); therefore data between markets is probably not comparable, and even within a market with the passing of time and the changing of ageing personnel or the drifting of standards....