NATIONAL FAT STOCK SHOW

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 24020, 7 August 1943, Page 3

NATIONAL FAT STOCK SHOW

JUDGE’S COMMENTS HIGH PRAISE OF FEMALE , QUALITY The following is a commentary provided by Mr Sam S. Timbs, the judge of the fat cattle at this week’s National Fat Stock Show held at Addington. Class I.—Bullock, any age, serviceable shop bullock: No. 1554 (T. Masefield’s entry). A blue grey of exceptional fleshing qualities. The ideal heavy-weight good cutting carcase. Its unusual development of lean flesh was accompanied by the corresponding bone structure of great strength. (This is not coarseness but a natural cause.) . Nevertheless, it was this lack of balance in the symmetry that excluded this animal from consideration in the final championship. Class 2,—Steer, not over three years: No. 1561 (Thos. Borthwick and Son’s entry). The most symmetrically finished animal in the show. A worthy champion of an outstanding class and entry.- The only fault I could place was his weight. In pre-war times this would nave been given more consideration, but at present and for some years ahead, the heavy, young, fleshy carcase is to be preferred. Weight of the right sort of meat will come back again as a favourable feature. Class 3. — Pens of steers over two and less than three years, most suitable for butchery trade: No. 1571 (F. J. Edwards first). , Three very even handy-weight steers, nicely finished without grossness. Pens 1577 (T. H. Wilkinson) second, and 1578 (R. T. Masefield) third, very similar to winners. These three pens were the answer to the qualification required for this class—i.e., a handy-weight carcase of beet that would yield a maximum of good cuts to put over the scale without loss by trimming off surplus fat and bone. There was little between the three, pens and the awards were given on minor points cf symmetry. One of the best pens was disqualified for overweight. Class 4.—Steer not over two years ("chillers"): No. 1581 (W. Grant) first. This was an awkward squad—l2 entries of which six were much too heavy for the orthodox chiller standard of 6401b, which is considered the ideal. Four exhibits were slack and plain. The winner and the second (No. 1580, W. A. Diedrlchs) were of very nice type and finish, but not up to the North Island chiller championship class. Class s.—Heifers, not over 3 years: The best class of females 1 have seen In New Zealand—not a “dud" in the lot. The first prize-taker, 1596 (A. Carruthers) is a great beast, just a trifle overdone, but with such a wonderful spread and thickness through the heart. She promises a great carcase. She Is a typical London Smithfleld winner of the days before the 1914-1918 war. The reformed type became the fashion in Scotland later, but I think that the stronger boned, fleshier, and deeper females are coming back into their own. This winner is a worthy specimen of that type. Class 6.—Cow, three years or over; No. 1611 (A- Gillanders) first. A massive Shortnorn of the Booth type. She carried me back many years to the massive Short-, horn cows of my youth. A grand beast, but. honestly, out-dated, yet she won, and won handsomely, as her smaller and more compact rivals revealed far worse faults and- patchiness, etc. I cannot help reflecting what a foundation such a type of cow would make for creating a herd headed by an Uppermill or Collyrie sire. Class 7.—Vealers under 12 months: A lovely class of runners (they were not vealers—ail choice baby beef), and the most digestible, toothsome and well flavoured meat produced in New Zealand. The relative value of this class of meat has never been appreciated at the proper value in this country. If these- youngsters , had been classed as “beef,” the winner. No. 1530 (A. Carruthers) would certainly have been in- the running for the championship. In summarising the display, Mr Timbs said that as a whole it was a fine output of a great variety of stock; splendid entries, well shown, with good facilities for judging and -altogether a great credit to the committee which inaugurated the show, and to the secretary for his knowledge, tact, and management. “I have judged on many scores, of occasions during the last 30 years in England and New Zealand, but at none that, has given me greater scope and greater pleasure,” said Mr Timbs. PULPY KIDNEY . (To the Agricultural Editor.) Sir,—-Some time ago you had an article -on “Pulpy Kidney” in lambs and the need for innoculation of ewes to prevent it. I do not know whether many farmers innoculate and if so what success they have, but I have found the following ipethod most satisfactory. It is well known that it is always the best single lambs that die from this complaint, and I have long held the opinion that owing'to the lamb having a good mother with plenty of milk the lamb does not take sufficient exercise to cause it. kidneys and bowels to function properly. For a number of years we have "shedded” the ewes at lambing—i.e., move on the. ewes that have not lambed to. a fresh paddock and then gradually gather- the ewes and lambs into-a paddock By themselves. By this means all lambs in each paddock are more or less the same age. This, of course, is an advantage for docking purposes. When the lambs are about a fortnight old we round them up at least three times a week and more or less miss-mother them. This means that all lambs must take a certain amount of exercise. Since we have adopted this scheme our losses from “pulpy kidney” have been practically nil. It is a good way of learning a young dog. as a certain amount of mistakes do no harm. —Yours, etc., C. L. ORBELL. : Pentlpw, Timaru. f North provides its winter feed needs by large scale hay saving, but the retort to this again could be that the South Island saves all the hay that the climate will allow. It is the inability to save more that forces farmers here to turnip growing and prevents them from keeping down their fattening costs to North Island parity. FARM MANPOWER From statements made by farmers at meetings of Primary Production Committees and the Farmers’ Unicoi, and by individual farmers, it is plain that the manpower position is daily becoming more perturbing. This is explained, according to some of these statements, by the fact that many A grade men who had been exempted under the essential industry conditions, have now been called up and sent overseas, and there has not been a corresponding release from the camps of efficient Grade 2 men. .This is not a complaint singular to the agricultural districts but to the dairying industry as well. A Rangiora farmer told “Straggler” the other day that much land which had received a preliminary working for sowing in the spring is in the same condition as it was three months ago. with the difference that weed growth was now commencing to appear. This was claimed by the farmer to be entirely due to the absence of experienced tractor drivers. There is no reason to question the accuracy of many of these statements. The fact that they arc coming from all parts of the country and from various classes of producers suggests their correctness, and as far as an arable province like Canterbury is concerned the position must affect the acreage of wheat, oats, and to a smaller extent fattening feed. The facility with which soldier labour was made available for the harvesting of wheat, oats, and potato crops last season could surely be emulated in the matter of preparing the soil for this season’s crops. It has to be confessed that an inexperienced man will become an efficient potato picker or stooker much more quickly than he will become a competent tractor driver, and it is a fair assumption that the number of capable tractor men in camp is limited. However, farmers claim to know of individual cases where district needs could be substantially met by the men’s release, at least temporarily, : „

WHEATGROWING COSTS . (To the Agricultural Editor.) Sir,—l was very interested in the wheatgrowing costs as worked out by the, students of St. Andrew’s College. All farmers will consider that this was a worth while effort. In many cases of wheat growing on marginal land, how-ever,-5s 5d a bushel will not cover cost of growing. I have a case before me where all work was done by contract and the cost worked out at £9 8s 6d an acre. The land is valued at £23 an acre and in my opinion is not suitable for wheat growing. The yield was 28 bushels an acre,' which shows a production cost of nearly 6s 9d a bushel. The growing of wheat on other than wheat land is a losing proposition in every way.—Yours, etc., FARMER. NOTABLE SHOW RING RECORD Mr Thos. G. Gee, whose death occurred at Christchurch recently, was probably the best known figure in New Zealand show rings in the last 25 years. During that period he exhibited ponies at every show of importance from Auckland to Invercargill, bt practically all the Canterbury provincial shows, and at many of the smaller gatherings in other provinces. At the end of lastseason his record of prizes consisted of 624 firsts, champions, and special awards, without counting minor placings. His successes included championships at the Sydney Royal Show a number of years ago for two ponies he took across to compete at that gathering. He always drove his own harness ponies, in spite of the fact that in recent years he had passed the allotted span. He possessed a remarkable capacity for estimating the qualities of ponies in the rough, and under his able schooling these were developed into stylish-moving show ring ponies that immediately caught the eye of judges. Many of the young generation of riders also owe their capabilities in the saddle to Mr Gee’s tuition. The annual bull sale of the Canterbury Combined Breeders’ Association will be held at Addington saleyards on Friday, October 15. A meeting of the executive selected from delegates of the various breed societies decided at a meeting this week to fix the third Friday in October as the date of future annual sales. A fixed date will enable breeders and dairymen to plan ahead each year and also avoid clashing with agricultural shows, which will be resumed when the war is over. The sale last season was the first effort of the association, and it was successful enough to establish confidence that future gatherings would provide a welcome opportunity to breeders and others interested to dispose and buy the best breeds of dairy cattle. A condition of the sale is that all animals must pass inspection judges of the respective, breeds as tp type and condition. Sufficient serpentine deposits to provide 9000 tons of serpentine superphosphate have been quarried near Mossburn and delivered to fertiliser works in the South Island. This was provided through a preliminary contract for a total of 2300 tons of serpentine to give South Island fertiliser manufacturers opportunities to experiment in the manufacture of the mixed fertiliser. Serpentine superphosphate has been in compulsory use in the North Island for some time. The deposits near Mossburn are very extensive, but a fair amount of development work was necessary before regular deliveries could be undertaken. A loading bank was built at the railway siding at Mossburn. During the period that the quarry was in operation 30 tons of serpentine rock were delivered daily. It was knapped by hand to pieces with a diameter of three inches. If larger quantities of serpentine are required it may be necessary to expand the plant and install a crusher. The highest-priced pen of wethers at Wednesday’s National Fat Stock Market was 54s 4d, secured by R. D. Cochrane (Elgin. Ashburton), a truck lot of 52 making from that price down to 49s 4d. GROW MUSTARD ON CONTRACT. Rape prices leaving much to be desired, the growing of Culinary Mustard is offering many attractions. Definite contracts assure, profitable returns. Full particulars from Alex. McDonald, and Company, Grain. Seed, and Produce Merchants, 194 Cashel street, Christchurch. ’Phones 38-800, 31-580. —1