– In December, 1934, eminent veterinarian, Professor Sydney Herber Gaiger, FRCVS, former principal of Glasgow Veterinary College and first director of the Animal Diseases Research Association, died at Birkenhead.

In 1911, he contracted glanders from an Arab pony in the Punjab Veterinary College, where he was attached to the Indian Veterinary Service and as a result, he underwent no fewer than 45 operations, 27 of them under general anaethetic between March, 1911 and June, 1913. The Moredun Institute at Edinburgh, was planned by Professor Gaiger and carried into effect.

– In 1936, in February, a historic Clydesdale event took place. The sale of 29 stallions and colts of James Kilpatrick, Craigie Mains, Kilmarnock, by Ian Clark, in Lanark Market, saw an attendance of almost 5000, with some spectators seen on the rafters of the sale ring. There have been Clydesdale sales which have returned a higher average, but in times such as these, an average of £388 10s, was something to talk about. Top price was 2800gns paid by AJ Marshall, Bridgebank, Stranraer, for Craigie Dalpeddar, by Craigie Ambition and out of a Craigie Excellence dam bred by WA Thomson, Dalpeddar, Sanquhar.

– A veteran grey Icelandic pony gelding at thet verifiable advance age of 44years, died in the possession of Mrs John Gardiner, West Enoch, Maybole. Donald, as he was called, maintained a perfect bill of health until 12 hours of his death in 1937. He worked regularly in light spring cart on the road and field until he was 30-years-old.

– In 1938, during December, sheep drowned after a tidal wave raced up the Solway with great rapidity, trapped and drowned 902 sheep grazing on the Rockcliffe Marshes, half a mile across from the Gretna-Eastriggs coast of the Firth. Many of the carcases were recovered, but hundreds remained missing. The sheep belonged to farmers on the Cumberland and Lakeland fells who, as they have done for the past 30 years, brought the animals from the high lying districts down to the marsh to graze on the lush young pasture during the winter. The total loss sustained by the farmers, was reckoned to be in the region of £1600.

– When war broke out in 1939, fixed prices became the order of the day. Several price-fixing orders were passed by the Food Ministry. Maximum prices have been fixed for fat cattle, sheep and pigs and also for potatoes, sugar and eggs.