LAND, STOCK & CROPS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 53, Issue 150, 6 April 1933, Page 7

LAND, STOCK & CROPS

NOTES AND COMMENTS. (By "The Tramp 1 '). Many experiments are being carried out in. England in crossing for fat lambs. The latest reported is by the Leeds University and the results are interesting. Cheviot ewes were used and the rams were Suffolk, Southdown, Ryeland, and Shropshire. The Suffolk gave the best return with an average weekly gain in live weight of 4.521bs and an average of 38.21bs carcase weight, and went off in 105 days. Ryelands at 107 days showed a weekly gain of 3.361bs and killed 36.21b5. Shropshires at 111 days gained 3.961bs weekly and weighed 33.21b5, while Southdowns gained 3.71bs weekly and at 127 days killed 36.21b5. It is interesting to note prices obtained for these lambs when top price New Zealand frozen was under 6d and the Suffolk weights was selling under 5d per lb. They were sold in July and August at from Is to Is 3d per lb. Suffolks averaged 46s 9d; Ryelands 43s 6d; Southdowns 42s 3d; and Shropshires 38s 9d. Captain Hay, a member of the staff of the Chelmsford Institute of Agriculture, in a lecture on the production of fat lambs made it very plain that early lamb.growing was a risky business involving heavy bills for concentrates and labour. Early lamb there means having them ready for sale between Christmas and Easter and the argument of Captain Hay was that a very small increase in the numbers produced would mean prices brought to a level which is unremunerative. The writer some time ago pointed out that this class of lamb could never be any serious competitor with iNew Zealand exports as it requires about 2s per pound to pay the grower and the people who buy it never buy frozen meat of any kind. The demand for lamb ai about 2s 6d per lb" retail is very limited and can never affect New Zealand exports in the slightest degree. On several occasions lately agricultural correspondents have made a point of mentioning the fact that New Zealand refuses to take live stock from Britain (declares an exchange) 1M "Times" and the "Field" both refer to this embargo. "Canaua's recognition of the quarantine station at the London clocks is a cause for satisfaction among breeders of pedigree stock," says the "Times" writer. "Hitherto Canada has had an embargo on our stock unless they were shipped at a time when the country had been free from foot-and-mouth disease for at least 60 days. Now the Canadian Government is prepared to issue permits for the importation into Canada of pedigree stock provided that the animals are accompanied by the Ministry of Agriculture's certificate to the effect that they have been detained in the London quarantine station for a period of 14 days before embarkation. Animals so imported will be quarantined for a further 14 days on arrival in Canada. This arrangement leaves stock-breed-ers free to ship stock from other ports when the country has a clean bill of health for 60 days. "New Zealand is now the only Dominion which declines to accept live stock direct from the London quarantine station. Stock can, however, be shipped first to an Australian port, and, after a period of quarantine there, be transported to New Zealand. In view of the fact that no case of foot-and-mouth disease has passed through the London quarantine station, breeders hope that New Zealand will soon come into line with the other Dominions." Canada's action is also described by the "Field." The writer concludes:— "The new arrangement may be regarded as an act fo reciprocity in consideration for the lifting of our embargo on breeding stock from Canada. Unfortunately, New Zealand still refuses to recognise the London quarantine station."

The question at what age to send heifers to the bull (when it is desired to introduce them to the dairy herd) must be determined upon various considerations. Big, strong heifers are doubtless fit to produce a calf at two to two and a-half years old, yet many farmers prefer them to calve at three years old. A three-year-old heifer is practically a cow, whereas a two-year-old has often little more milk than will feed her calf. Nevertheless, it is said that early breeding makes better milkers, and there is sometimes a risk of not getting the heifer in-calf if the mating is delayed. Heifers which appear to mature early, and tend to fatten, are perhaps better got in-calf early, say when fifteen to eighteen months old. Too early mating is always inadvisable, though it sometimes occurs, as when a bull breaks bounds and invades a forbidden field. In-calf heifers cost comparatively little for feeding. During the grazing season their sole dietary is grass; and during the winter they may be fed on turnips and straw. After calving they require extra feeding. If the heifers prove poor milkers they may be permitted to suckle their calves, and then became beeves. Sometimes, indeed, the, calves are put to other cows to suckle, or are reared by hand, while the heifers are promptly dried off and fattened for the butcher. This plan received a good deal of attention when young cows having had but one calf made a good price at the fat stock marts; but recently such cows have fallen so heavily in value that it now affords but a poor return for the farmer. Since good milch cows continue to make a good high price (for the constant demand invariably exceeds the supply), it seems strange that farmers do not pay more attention to the breeding and rearing of good daily cows. This is obviously wasteful. Dairymen are too intent upon the sale of milk to spare any of it for the rearing of calves. If the calves find their way into the hands of small farmers, as' "day-olds" or "week-olds," they may be reared, but too many of them go to the butcher as veal.