NOTES FOR GRAZIER AND DEALER.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 9516, 8 September 1896, Page 2

NOTES FOR GRAZIER AND DEALER.

•« Weekly Press and Referee." By Stkagqlkr. It was, perhaps, only natural with an I exceptionally large entry of store sheep— i albeit some were classed as fat —and a limited attendance of graziers at Addington last week, that an easier feeling should prevail iti regard to forward sheep. At the ; same time it must be noted the impression is pretty general that values for sheep suit- < able for grazing purposes are to be much easier, and if the bad weather of last week continues I should think the impression will prove to be well founded. j Attention was directed in our market j review last week to the fact that many linee containing a large proportion of freezingsheep ; received but scant consideration from export buyers owing to their being enmposed of half fat as well as prime sheep. It w&b ■ pointed out that owing to scarcity of occom- . modation the pens necessary to properly j draft such lines were not available, and con- i eequently they had to be sold in a mixed ; state greatly to the detriment of owners' | returns. This circumstance should be carefully noted by those graziers who are in the habit of leaving the classing of their sheep to their agents, and endeavour made to satisfactorily, draft sheep before leaving home in these days of big markets and limited space.

'So far the lambing reports which have reached mc have been most satisfactory. It is quite possible, however, that the severity of the weather on Thursday and Friday last may have put a different aspect on some owners' prospects. At a meeting of the Nelson Agricultural . and Pastoral Association the other day, Mr j Sharp introduced the question of a proposed Meat Freezing Company. According to the Coloniit, Mr Sharp said some time back a sub-commute hail been appointed to consider the question of the proposed freezing works for the Nelson district. That Committee ; had held a number of meetings, and had ' gathered a lot of information on the subject. The Committee considered that a prospectus should be issued, and a copy sent to each sheep farmer. It was proposed to call the Company the Tasmun Bay Refrigerating Company Limited, aud to call up at once one i shilling per share. A guarantee form would also be sent to each sheep farmer to fill in, as they must have something binding as to the supply of sheep. The Committee thought a canvass should be made for subscriptions •with a view to place the matter properly before the public, and that the Association .should vote a small sum towards the same object. The matter, he considered, was of ! the 'gravest importance to all of them, and they 'should all endeavour to bring it to a successful issue. The sheep owners ought to give their support by taking up shares, j and endeavour to supply sheep. They j would have to go in for a different system than at present in vogue. They would have ; to put a lot of their land in root crops, and j then fatten sheep, and by these means the whole of the Waimea Plains would be refertilised. He warned them that they would soon have to do something pf the sort as the land was deteriorating for grain producing, owing to being impoverished. If they went in for root crops at once, in two or three years there would be an abundance of sheep. The preliminary expenses would be from £20 to £25. He was sorry so many had left the meeting, as he had intended to move a resolution that the Association vote a email sum towards the expenses, but he would do so at the next meeting. He felt certain that if their present efforts did not bear immediate fruit, that they would in the futnre. The general impression amongst the members present was mpst favourable to the undertaking, and the question will doubtless be fully, discussed shortly. There appears to be quite a rage at the present time in England for «nal\ cattle. Popular taste has become very pronounced for small joints and a larger proportion of lean to fat meat than was formerly the case. This change was, no doubt, largely brought about by the system of marketing cattle at very early ajjes, the "baby beef," as it is familiarly called, containing a larger proportion of red meat than that of fullymatured cattle. To meet the demand for these small joints the British farmers introduced the system of forcing the larger breed?, such as the Shorthorn, Hereford, Aberdeen-Angus, and Sussex, from calfhood, turning them into beef at eighteen months old, and at that age they do not accumulate much fat. The taste for leaner meat was thus developed. The number of the larger breeds of home-bred cattle which can be fattened off at that age is, however, but small in comparison with the consumption, hence the resort to the breeding of smaller cattle, such as the North Devon, Red Polls, and a resort to crosses with small native breeds such as the Kerrys and Dexters. The last-named cross with the Shorthorn produces an excellent carcase of rich meat, almost equal to the Highland cattle. The day of young beef has come in America also. The Chicago Live Stock Reporter notes "the ascendency of the heifer towards the pinnaole of high prices from the butcher's

point of view," with a corresponding recce* sion of the value of the heavy steer. Good fat young heifers are selling better in pro. portion than any other class of cattle, not jeven prime beeves excepted. From th* butcher's point of view these nice little 10001b heifers make an ideal carcase. Thii heifer beef is simply "baby beef/ , though the American has not yet apparently diecovered the fact. A West Coast correspondent writes ask* ing the probable date of the annual Amuri cattle fair. I believe that Friday, Sep. tem her 25th, is the day selected. At a meeting of the Otago Agricultural and Pastoral Association the question of imposing an annual license fee on stallions used for stud purposes was (says the Witntn} freely discussed. Several members spoke at some length on the deterioration of the horse stock during the last few years, and pointed out that the remedy rested with the breeders and owners who acoepted inferior animals. They also referred to the difficulty in obtaining a duly qualified veterinary surgeon to examine and certify that a horse it free from hereditary unsoundness. After considerable discussion and the amount of fee to bo charged had been decided on, Mr Thomu Brydone moved the following resolutions :— "1. That this society regret the unquestionable deterioration of the horse stock of New Zealand during the last few yean, and are of opinion that legislation in the direction of imposing an annual license foe on stallions would preatly benefit breederi and farmers generally, and tend to improve the stock. ' "2. They recommend that an annual fee of £15 be imposed on all entire horses used for stud purposes, and that no stallion b» allowed to stand or travel in any district, or parade at any entire horse parade, unlew the animal has been inspected by a duly qualified veterinary surgeon and a certificate obtained by the owner that such animal iff free from hereditary unsoundness. " (3) That, the amount of tax so raised, after deducting cost of veterinary examina« tion, be appropriated for the purpose of giving prizes to the respective classes of horses and their progeny at agricultural ■hows. " (4) That a copy of these resolutions be forwarded to the Minister for Agriculture, and that he be respectfully asked to give the matter his careful consideration, and that copies be sent to kindred association* for their consideration and support." Tne motion was .eecond,ed by Mr Robert Charters, and carried unanimously. The Wairarapa Star tells the followiag story :—A commission agent of Masterton— we will not mention his neme—had some cows for sale. Hβ heard of a probable buyer, whom he interviewed. The settler ! seemed rather anxious to take the cows, but wanted to know something about them. The animals were described as par excellence. " What is their age ?" asked the intending buyer. " Oh," said the agent, in a matter j of-fact way, " they are quite young—only two-tooth." This clinched the bargain. The settler said he had been looking ! for a long time for " two-tooth cowi." ! Private advices received from Mr P. Pattullo of Otago, who is on a visit 4a I the Old Country, indicates that he is taking lan active interest in collecting information which will assuredly be of much service to the agricultural and pastoral cause when he I gets back to the colony.