TOPICS OF THE DAY

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27860, 7 January 1956, Page 7

TOPICS OF THE DAY

FIFTIETH BIRTHDAY The Ohoka and districts branch of Federated Farmers had its fiftieth birthday yesterday. It was formerly the Kaiapoi branch of the old Farmers’ Union. This important occasion will be officially celebrated at a function in March, when it is hoped to gather together again all those who have served the branch in years gone by. According to information supplied by the secretary of the branch. Mr Tom Rowlands, the Kaiapoi branch of the Farmers’ Union was formed at a meeting of farmers held in Kaiapoi on January 6, 1906. The officers of the new organisation were: president, Mr F. Parnham; vice-president, Mr K. Mclntosh: secretary-treasurer, Mr C. Morgan Williams; committee, Messrs Cooper, R. Evans, H. Mclntosh. F. Thorne. Etherington. J. L. Wilson and Armitage. At this early meeting steps were taken in the interests of farmers in the district. It was then decided to investigate the possibilities of arranging facilities for testing samples of milk for dairy farmers and the branch was instrumental in forming a herd testing association called the North Canterbury Dairy Farmers’ Association, with headquarters at Ohoka. The first chairman of the association • was Mr F. Pearce. Under its new title the branch is still continuing to do good work for the district under it present chairman, Mr P. Armstrong. FARMING FEAT The volume of New Zealand farm production has increased 160 per cent, since 1921 and all this has been done on a virtually unchanged area of occupied land with a labour force which has not increased in size and is working shorter hours. The number of livestock carried has increased by 80 per cent, and there has also been a notable improvement in the quality of the stock. Butterfat production per cow has increased by 37 per cent., the average number of lambs tailed per 100 breeding ewes has increased from 83 per cent, to 97 per cent., and production of wool per sheep has increased by about 35 per cent. GOOD FAT LAMB DRAFT Recent reports in the Farm and Station page of “The Press” of good early drafts of fat lambs this season have prompted Mr G. J. Francis, of Halswell, to relate his experience with a mob of ewes and lambs at Templeton. His 162 four-year-old Corriedale ewes, mated with Southdown rams, which began to lamb about the middle of August produced 249 lambs (a percentage better than 150 per cent.) and at the end of November 199 <l2O per cent, off the mothers) went off to the works in the first draft. This excellent line killed out. at an average of 33.981 b and there were only two seconds among them. The ewes and lambs had been running on yarrow and white clover. A MODERN PROBLEM With all its advantages, mechanisation of farming also brings its problems. The manager of a Hawke’s Bay freezing company has drawn attention to one of these. On many farms in the province where beef cattle are being raised, the horse has apparently been superseded by the jeep, with the result that the cattle have never seen a man on a horse until the buyer arrives to do the drafting. Then at the unusual sight, of a man on horseback the cattle become excited and difficult to handle, very much to their detriment. So perturbed is the stock superintendent of one company about this position that he has had an appeal made to the company’s clients with chiller cattle to work them on horseback whenever possible so that they can be handled more easily when the time comes for drafting. RAM FAIRS The season of ram and ewe fairs is now approaching. Arrangements for the stud and flock ram fairs held at the Addington Show Grounds under the auspices of the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association have been advised by the secretary of the association, Mr H. M. Studholme. The stud fair will be on February 9, with January 27 the closing date for entries. The flock fair will be held on March 15 and 16. for which entries will close on February 29. For the flock fair no vendor may enter more than two rams of a breed to be sold singly. Where a vendor enters more than one breed he may sell up to two single sheep of each breed.