NEWS HERE AND THERE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 59, Issue 38, 24 November 1938, Page 8

NEWS HERE AND THERE.

AN ARTIFICIAL SOW. Franz Gruner, a farmer at Ebling, East Prussia, has invented an artificial pig to provide milk for a sow’s litter when the mother is unable to satisfy the appetites of the young. The artificial pig is fitted internally with a heating apparatus to ensurevproper temperature for the milk supply. The hack lifts up so that the two milk containers one at each side of the warmer, can he refilled. The little pigs are deceived by the porcine shape of the feeding apparatus and take quite readily to its teats.

Farm Paradise. A farmer, knocked at tho pearly gate, His face was scarred and old, He, stood before the Man of Fate For admission to the fold. “What have you done,’’ St. Peter asked To gain admission here?” “I’ve been a farmer, sir,” lie said, “For many and many a year.” The pearly gate swung open wide As St. Peter touched the hell, “Comb in,” lie said, “and choose your harp, You’ve had your taste'of hell!” Sheep Coming Back? According to the June returns, there were 1,075,800 more breeding ewes in Great Britain in 1938 than there were in 1937, yet at the same date there were 496,800 fewer lambs. During the lambing season, the general report seemed to he of good lamb crops and low mortality, so shortness of feed apparently compelled many farmers to sell their lambs earlier than they did last year. That looks like a firmer trade in the autumn when wintering hoggets are required (states a correspondent). Against this, however, there is the fact that many flockmasters have been unable to sell their draft ewes and so will be unable to accommodate fresh lots of ewe hoggets. Truly, the sheep trade has got out of gear this season

Mastitis Testing. From the results so far reached, it is cleay, that the free mammitis testing service available to all farmers who are testing their cows through the group section this year, is going to be exceedingly popular. It was expected' that approximately 50 per cent of the herds tested would he tested for mammitis, but this total is being far exceeded in some districts. In the Waikato, for instance, the percentage is at least 65, and there are some areas where practically every herd which is being tested in production, is also being tested for mammitis.

Foot-and-Mouth Disease, The discovery that a hedgehog sent to the Government’s Research Station at Pirbriglit, Surrey was naturally infected with foot-and-mouth disease has again suggested this animal as a possible reservoir of infection (writes a London correspondent). It has been found that the hedgehog is very susceptible to the disease and can spread it not,only by contact, lmt through its breath, toother hedgehogs* and cattle. Valuable results are expected from the experiments with hedgehogs which are now being carried out. The experiments with cattle at Pirbriglit have indicated that the disease may he carried in dust and other materials by strong and persistent winds blowing from one quarter. Little direct evidence has been found in England from the existence of carriers among cattle. Expanding Meat Trade. A meat exporter who has just returned to Australia from a trip to Great Britain and the Continent, expressed tin 1 opinion that there was no immediate prospect of getting Australian meat in any quantity into France. “Unfortunately meat export trade conditions have greatly changed in the last few years,” he said. “In the old days the individual meat trader went out after new markets, and frequently found them. To-day, owing to the policy of national self-sufficiency, the individual meat traders must wait on Governments to come to agreements first. This means' that as far as the Continent is concerned Australia would need trade agreements with individual countries before we can develop our meat trade again with them.’ ’