Cattle were introduced into New Caledonia in the middle of the 19th century before France took possession of the archipelago in 1853. It was an English santal wood trader named Paddon who imported the first cattle from Australia to Nou Island where its main counter was established and where the penal colony of New Caledonia was later built. At that time, the demand for meat was high - especially during the activity period of the penal colony from 1864 to 1924 - and extensive livestock farming was the most profitable form of land use.