NOTES FOR GRAZIER AND DEALER.

Press, Volume L, Issue 8583, 9 September 1893, Page 4

NOTES FOR GRAZIER AND DEALER.

(By Straggler.) Weekly Press I have received the following letters :— Ornamataa Station, Erewhon, Hawke's Bay, August 17ch, 1893. Sir,—On August 10th you reprint some of Mr E. Tanner's remarks as reported from the Australasian Pastoralists" Review. Probably some of my friend Mr Tanner's remarks require to be taken with a grain of ealfc. When he said "No sheep farmer in Hawke'a Bay owned a plough " he must have allowed a love of figurative language to get the better of memory. However, the main point, on which you Canterbury people are so much amused, is Mr Tanner's assertion that first class Hawke's Bay mutton is sold as Canterbury—in fact, that " Canterbury" is simply an English trade expression for first-class New Zealand mutton. Now here I would come to the rescue of my friend, in so far ac to state that Mr William Nelson, in conversation with mc, certainly gave mc to understand that it was so. As to Mr Tanner' 9 further statement that most of the Hawke's Bay mutton is sold as Canterbury, I think that is open to very great doubt, because, from what I have seen, the averag9 quality of mutton frozen in Canterbury is decidedly superior to that of Hawke's Bay, and it ia so for the simple reason that, ac Mr Overton said, "the merino ewe is the foundation of the whole thing." You in Canterbury are always drawing from that foundation. In Hawke's Bay the bulk of the sheep have long left any strain of merino behind, and are mostly Lincoln < r Bomaey of a more or less pure type. You, however, Mr "Straggler," put a very, pertinent question in asking how it is that we in Hawke'e Bay are content to accept a lower price. for our meat than current N.Z. value for prime Canterbury. Sir, we are not content, and would very mtioh like to know why the value of our freezers and consequently stores, should be at least 2e6d or 3* less than Canterbury irrespective of quality. Mr Nelson's explanation of this fact is that in consequence of the bulk of the freezing ia Hawke's Bay taking place during the summer and autumn mouths the freezing process is more expensive, and freights are also more expensive, besides which the necessity for nearly or quite closing the works for a great part of the winter entails extra expense, whereas you do a large proportion of your freezing in winter. This may or may not be sufficient to account for the general lower level of prices obtaining in Hawke's Bay, but lam sure that Messrs Nelson's system of grading does not encourage the production of a superior class of mutton. According to their grading, mutton of first class must ba between 551b and 651b weight, neither over or under, and breed or quality is not taken into consideration. Such a system, as Mr Waymouth says, must be worthless, and I take it that the bulk of Hawke's Bay frozen mutton, If the required weight, is Immature Lincoln, which certainly Iβ not t a prime quality. I Mr Waymouth says that a Down cross will always realise a better price than any others. It is not so here; half-breeds, cross-breeds, Lincolns or Downs are all on the same level. Under the circumstances, is it likely that quality will be considered by the breeder 2—l am. yours &c, W. J. Bibch. Sat,—lt was not the fact of having the method discussed that I took exception to, but the manner in which Mr Oliver chose to discuss it. Mr Oliver does nob know whether it is possible to fix a type of sheep midway' between tbelpng wool and merino, and has never even seen a sheep from either of the flocks in question, and yet wishes to pose before the public as a not-to-be-questioned authority on cross-breeding and its results. He also gives it as his opinion that first cross sheep are the most profitable we can at present breed., and of course Mr Oliver's opinion must be right, and he can no doubt show tie that a merino ewe with a halfbred lamb is more profitable than a halfbred ewe and lamb. When I offered to give a prize if MrOliver would do the same, I merely did so thinking that it was the best way of testing as to who had arrived at the most satisfactory results, and for a reply I certainly did sot expect anything reacmbHng a Tarawera eruption, but a reply worthy of a sheep breeder. Youxs&c., W.H.A.Napier, August 25,1893. Dgajk Sißv-Some time since I noticed in your remarks some statistics of fat laotbs. for the past season, in which you noticed Hawke's Bay being a long way behind in comparison to other provinces in-New Zealand. Now, sir, excepting under special circumstances I am not a heliever in the prudence of selling lambs to be slaughtered in great quantities, for the -following reasons:—'Suppose the owner of » station to have fairly good land, he has worked up the quality of his sheep far above the average, he provides a certain amount of cropping for winter and spring feed to enable his lambioe season to commence fairly early, and, if he so chooses, 25 per cent of his lambs are fit or the butcher at remunerative prices, bat by selling off all the best of his lambs, what a marked difference there would be in the depreciation of hie flock the following season in the wool clip, the for early freezing, and last, but not least, the addition to the breeding flock. Now, to my mind, to breed lambs for killing offfet In large quantities to pay, and without loss otherwise, the mothers should be specially selected the previous season, say full mouth at least, and he placed.upon better land than they have been accustomed to feeding opoa,provisioa made, to force them on through the trying Mftsen* and bo sold fat off the shears.

Doubtless, the South Island is better adap-; ted for producing fat l&raba than the Nortn, there being a great deal more flat land and agriculture is more a business in that part of the colony. Yours &c. Constant Eeadkh of thk Weekly Press. * A Breeder writes to know if " by endorsing Mr Tanner's remarks on ' spoon fed' rams I intend to insinuate that the term is largely applicable to Canterbury rams." How can yon, my dear sir, imagine mc so unpatriotic? Besides, do you think that j if I did have reason to take the view yon I suggest that I should not have ths moral courage to say so ? i The general system of operating on lambs is too well understood to need ex- ! planation, but a few hints on the more i important details to be observed in the performance may not be unprofitable to some sheep farmers. In the first place then the oldfaehioned custom of resting the lamb on a narrow sheep yard rail should be discarded and a flat board substituted. This arrangement is the more convenient and affords a more comfortable rest for the animal co be operated on, and the lamb is not so liable to be injured in tbe b&ck if a violent struggle take place. The scrotum having been opened the operator should grasp the cords of the glands with some firmness .with the finger and thumb of either band and then draw out the glands rather slowly, they should not be drawn quickly or with a jerk. A firm grasp of the gland cords facilitates the extraction and apparently causes less punishment to the animal operated on. It is sometimes advisable when a lamb has escaped operation till he reaches some size, to slit open the inner covering or cartilage of the gland before drawing it out. In this case the hand must be used, and care must be taken in drawing the fclands that the globule, loosely attached to each, should be removed, otherwise a etaggy appearance in the sheep with sexual though impotent tendencies are the consequences. If care is not taken this globule is left behind. In taking off the tail the most suitable joint is where tbe tail has 4apered rather suddenly. A little observation and practice determines the spot with readiness. Three or four joints from the base will thus be left. The knife should not be applied with a direct downward cut, but a little on one side, when it usually glides easily into the joints. A direct downward cut fore-shortens the skin of tbe under part of the tail, and unnecessarily enlarges the wound. If the tail is cut very short, as is sometimes done, the danger of losing ewe lambs is almost as great as in tbe double operation tbe ram lambs undergo. Same length of tail, too, has more than a fig-leaf use; it is a real protection In tbe case of ewes. - Besides, a very short stump is a disfigurement to the sheep while alive, and a disfigurement to the carcase when dressed; and, moreover, the tail of a sheep or lamb is a toothsome morsel to some persons. If possible, lambs should not be driven after the operation, but should be allowed to draw away quietly from the yard with their mothers. If there is convenience for close psddocking for a few hoars so much che better till the lambs have mothered. Should this not be available it is a question whether it is not worth the trdable aud expense of erecting temporary yards on the feeding ground, which can easily be done with a few hurdles for the close work, and a few lengths.of wire netting for the holding yards. On a large space of ground, if the ewes and lambs have become used to it, both mothers and offspring, If they miss each other, will, generally search the haunts they have before frequented. In the matter of fixed yards it ie not prudent to use those where animals have been slaughtered, or where pig* have been confined, or where there may be any j I decaying substance of any kind. In sheep farming in a small way this matter ia noc sufficiently attended-to, and blood poisoning in sometimes the result. Here is a simple nursery riddle which someone in Cbristchureh should be able to supply an answer for. If it w very wrong to reduce the standard of Canterbury sheep by selling calls from outside provinces would it be wrong to threaten the standard of Canterbury cattle by a similar process* I hear that on Monday last a line of about 250 very good cattle were wending their way from Blenheim into Canterbury. As I said last week, our friends' in Marlboroußii do eend us down some really good drafts of cattle, and they form aa agreeable contrast to some of our other importations. Since I last wrote, the store sheep market has been quite as perplexing and certainly quite as depressing as ever. Tbe showers of Friday night and Saturday, if pretty general in the province, ehould, however, I come as a grain of comfort to long suffering graziers, and it is quite possible that.a little Spring weather new will start the upward tone of the market to which ; we are all looking forward with more j than our customary want of patience. At Little River quite a different order of things prevailed, and the cattle, which I em informed were on the whole a good lot, sold wltU a " boom" which moat have made the vendors smile a big smile. I was at Addington on the 30th alto., and noticed that my remarks of last week regarding, the quantity of unfinished sbeep which are coming forward as "fat" was strongly confirmed by the large number which was taken out of fat pens for finishing. I am strongly of oplnioo, too, that che purchasers will do well out of them. ' I also noticed on the same day some keen competition in the merino department, Sir John Hall, Messrs MurrayAynsley Bros, Bucdeuch Estate, and Mr W. Gerard being in tbe high priced division. Mr Ford also sold for Sir John Ball, some of bis much appreciated merino ewe mutton at 13s 3d. I have no hesitation in saying that in awarding damages to Mr Hobbe for in juries sustained by his horse when beipg unshipped, Mr Justice Williams has laid down a good precedent. The shipping of stock is now so largely carried on that it Is quite time that We insisted on some improvement in shipping companies , ideas of the necessary conveniences. It is a perfect* miracle to mc that there are not more accidents In this connection. Perhaps we don't hear of them all. I should like it understood that I am not for one moment desirous of alleging that the shipping companies' officers do not do all in their power to facilitate safe operations in shipping. To my own knowledge the Union Company's men leave no atone unturned in the interests of shippers. But the conveniences are often wanting. I recently saw alittle incident on Lyttelton wharf, which very much disgusted mc. I Some draught mares were being shipped. The loading of tbe steamer wa* practically completed, and a number of empty tracks were standing" on the wharf. The horses on the wharf, of course, were masters of those in charge of them if they so willed. Any disturbance was distinctly dangeroas during the few minutes necessary to complete shipping. Yet a brilliant genius, a railway servant, 1 presume, sauntered i along, and with the aid of a horse, shunted thetrucks hither aod thither, banged them together almost under the horses noses, and in short, without the least apparent necessity, did bis very best to frighten the horses into the water. "Delightful treatment," I said to the young man in charge of the horses. "Quite a mild instance of Lyttelton consideration in these matters, he replied. . And J went home thinking joang man was either Jong naCerinfc or blessed with an angelic temper. Bat here again, who would suffer if those hor»«» were wantonly frightened from the wharf into the water? I think I can guess. ' A valued correspondent end experienced sheep-farmer writes mc regarding the mortality ia breeding eWes. He says :— In the Prest an American alludes to tbe great value of bran as a preventative. Please warn your- readers to be careful and only use brao in smalt proportion \vide *'■ Boor's" letter, published in the Wjseklt Press last spring, when this question was under discussion) to more buisy food, as there Is great danger in using it alone or in quantity to all ruminants. I have seen poet mortem examinations made of valuable Alderney cows, in which the bran had hardened between the folds of the third stomach (maniphis) causing stoppage mod death. Old and heavy-bearing ewes succumb from lack of nitrogenous and pboapbatlc food, known to the scientific world aa protein or flesh-formers- Aa

animal may be in fairly fat condition and j yet succumb from wane of the requisite nourishment. My correspondent, whose remarks 1 quoted above on tbe mortality in breeding ewe*, sendy mc an extinct from Professor Spooner*e work on aheep which, should be of interest just now, and for which I am greatly obliged. Of this disease previous* to lambing, th« extract eay»:—Symptoms. —They stray from the rest of the flock, Hβ down, toss thrir heads, and grind their teeth. If eufldenly disturbed, they jump up, aud then frequently topple heels oTer head. They at length, however, ri«e, or lie and look dull, sleepy, and stupid. They walk atifn>. and with their bellies tacked up, and after going a little w*y they Uβ down md are unable to rise. The appetite is 10-st, ami rumination ceases* The pulse aud respiration are little affected, except when the animals are excited. The and ears are generally warai. and toe nvo.-as membranes are of their natural ■ %>a jiv. The disease generally terminates f itiiliy about the fifth day front tbe first attack. A few ihat have been bled seem to rally a little, and are certainly better. They were all bred when the disease first appeared. ** Post-mortem Examination.—The lire* Tery pale, of a light yeilow clay colour, and containing but little blood. The Luntcs. —The parenchymatous saostaaqe filled with thousand's of minute, round, red, or yellow spots, from the siz» of a pia*a point to thac cf a pin's head. When cat into, they contain either blood or yellow serum, in some few pas ; but from their minute size it ia difficult for aie to describe them. The Brain.—lβ that part of the dura mater opposite to and just below the frontal amuses, there was a b!ack and soft effusion, easily wiped off. The substance of the brain was a little softened, bat other" i-e healthy. Erery other part of the animal was minutely examined, and was perfectly healthy. The sheep were rather fat for breeding sheep, and two fUt lambs were in each. The stomachs aad intestines were healthy aud contained bat little food." The most tfngular park of this account is that the disease was confined to the true Downs, whilst tbe Lelcesters and the halfbreds escaped. Now this is precisely a different result from what we should expect with reeard to inflammatory diseases, the Leicester being more disposed to disease of this nature. The Downs are also considered to be bettet mothers and nurses. "We scarcely suppose that Che riciiness of the feed could hare been the cniue. as the cheep were folded at night {unless they were allowed the hay then as well as by day, which the ■writer does not mention), and the herbage in the month of March is not particularly nutritious. Tbe symptoms denote cerebral disease, or affection of the brain from sympathy with the digestive organ*, aud the examination after death supports the former supposition. A Marlborough exchange nays that Canterbury buyers are shewing very favourable inclination towards Marlborough cattle. 1 notice the same paper saye " there is a lack of well-bred bulls in the province, and this should be remedied if the attention of southern buyers is desired," Quite so. and 1 trust our Marlborough friends will make the remedy, for I have always thought they should seed us large supplies of good forward cattle. From Australian tiles I take the follow. paragraphs. The largest stud sheep sale of the season was effected by Mr Samuel M'Caughey. of Coononjr, to Mr Robert Rand, of Mahonga, at Urana, this week, consisting of SO extra stnd rams, seveaeightbs. Yermonts, at 50 guineas each, and 145 selected flock rams for 1090 guineas and 2000 cast; stnd ewes at las each, totalling £fiß2s. The same buyer has from the Coouong stud purchased, within the last two years, over £25,000 worth of stud sheep. Messrs J. and G. Biddock have been la* formed by their manager at Welnterfga, on the Victorian border of South Australia, of some exceptional cut*ings at the shear* ing now proceeding. One two-tooth ram cut 231b of wool; 10 rams of mixed ages averaged 211b Gcz. A flock of 387 etud ewes averaged 131b 2ox, while 73 ewes cut 161b 3oz, and 31 two-tooth ewes averaged 14lb 2oz. Some of the ewes cut up to 201b of wool. All tbe sheep referred to had from three' to four days less than the twelve months* growth of wool. The wool Is stated to be very bright, clean sod in good condition. Branding sheep with paint or tar U the subject of a letter from one of the largest London wool-buyers, received by Golds* brough, Mort and Co., referring to tbe bad effects of that practice. Tbe subject t« a rery important one, and will commend itself to tbe attention of wool growers in their own interests. The following is tbe letter:— ** I have received very great com- v plaints from my friends in America and V Yorkshire in reference to prevalence «f *** paint and tar brands on the fleece. Iα many cases the wool has been rejected solely on that account after being suid to arrive by sample. For Instance, the sale of "XXXX" was cancelled owing to the paint, which cost oar friends Id per lb. In selecting wool in future 1 thall avoid altogether brands wherever I find traces that owners have marked the fleece with either paint or tar. 1 should be glad if you will kindly acquaint your association aad the press with the contents of this letter, and endeavour to remedy this growing evil. , * In the current number of the Australasia* Pastoralist* Review the cress breeding question is largely discussed. W«ra my space not so fully occupied. I should bare given some of the opinions, which seem to differ a good deal. One very interesting article entitled "The Border Leicester, by Mr C. Fetharstonhaugh, a large pastoraliat who recently toured New Zealand, concludes in these terms. "In conclusion, I must draw attention to the fact that Mr Henry Overton, one pi our late visitors from New Zealand, and whose very fine Lincoln rams brought top prices at the late sales in Sydney, most decidedly favours the Lincoln cross, and he ia one of the most thoughtful, careful, and successful breeders in New Zealand, but he breeds on a small scale, and only in the Canterbury district. I have drawn from the experiences ol breeder* of large flocks in different part* of the islands. Again, a gentleman of very large and long experience, a Tery shrewd man, and of good judgment, warmly advocated the Lincoln against allcomers, and be was not a breeder, and so* should not have been biassed. I think myself that if a cross is intended to be gone on with and persevered with to establish a type, then the Lincoln Is the - long-woolled ram to be used to start with. With. Leicester blood for a foundation, I fear the ultimate result as regards weight of fleece would be the reverse of satisactorT. M Mr Moore, cheep inspector, reports ac under to she Secretary of Agriculture oa the Marlborough flocks :— Sheep.—Tbe flocks throughout the district, both cross-bred and merino, bare as a whole come in this season in a back* ward condition owing jto tbe anpreeedented rain fall producing a flash of •oft grass; the wool, from, the same reason, has been light, though, as a whole souad. Merino flocks have bees, by careful and judicious breeding worked up CO a high standard, and Wairaa Vall*f is now depasturing sheep that wiS compare favourably with asy merinos is New Zealand. I will, however, draw year attention to one serious evil—viz., the immense quantity of wool about the bead* of the meriao flocks, necessitating shearing several times in the year about tbe eyes. This, of course, is an impossibility on the runs, and the consequence U t&as many hundreds of the young sheep are lost annually by blindness, or are left on the run, it being impossible to drive them. There in a great increase in tbe number of croesbred-sheep. All the low-lying and suitable country la now. or will shortly be* stocked with them. The Lincoln is tbe cross mostly used, and when the country is good enough, no finer animal can be obtained, producing as it does a saleable carcase for shipment, * ell clothed with a maxim am of useful, laxtroua wooL Farmers are, as a class, very eareles* in the matter of the selection of rams, aisa take In preference a oheap inferior male. This will, I think, rectify itself when, by comparison, tbe great advantage of pay* ing attention to breed will be recognised. Lice are found in some of the crossbred nocks, bat dipping annually Is getting more into general u*e. and ff this tt persisted in generally parasites will be reduced to a> minimum. Foot-rot is not by any means prevalent, and where IS exists is kept in check by the use of obi arsenical foot-trough. Lambing.—Throughout the district the percentage has been only medium, *no would not average more that «>%» Lambs generally are looking healthy, and with little predi»po*ltion to lung-worm, which has not been seriously felt threofchoat che past season; many farmer* are taking precautionary measures, how«'* ! » and are dosing with turpentine ami rail*. I will draw your attention to the aeriosi evil likely to revolt from sending frosen . hunb. The ewelarobn are iavartablt tbe i most forward In condition, and are often * selected and picked downward*. The remit most be obvious. I think this evil should be «hown up, and peopl* warned ajnunst acting so injuriously for U» on* iutert-st of their flocks,— Maribemfh Times.