IN THE MANAWATU

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 220, 11 June 1921, Page 13

IN THE MANAWATU

REVIEW OF PRESENT CONDITIONS BUYERS OF PEDIGREE STOCK From Our Special Correspondent. Palmerston North, June 10. Although there have been one or two light frosts, these have been followed by bright sunny days, and there has been practically no cessation in the growth of 'feed. A run round the Kairunga and Aokautere districts gives the impression that the feed for this time of the year is much bettor than it has been for many seasons, and all stock is looking well. Naturally, most of the cows are dying off, but quite a number of dairymen are •tated to be making the necessary arrangements to have certain cows coming in for the winter season in future. With this object in view they are making inquiries as- to the best means of providing feed, and it is hoped that this will lead to more intense cultivation and better farming generally. There is a decided hardening in both the fat sheep and cattle markets. The supply is more or less limited at present, but the excellent manner in which the pastures have responded to the late rains gives promise of good forward Stores soon developing into fats. Forward store cattle are being more sought 'after, but anything weedy is neglected. In the sheep line, sound ewes in lamb to black-faced rams are eagerly competed for, and it is evident that this class for producing good light-weight sheep for export is becoming more popular. So far us seed oats are concerned, the demand still continues, and some very .largo areas have been sown. At the ' present time good dressed lines command from ss. 9d. to 6s. 3d. per bushel. Chaff shows a hardening tendency, but very littlo is changing hands yet. Farmers are asking £1 per ton for good samples. There has been a fair demand for seeds, but. as it is now between seasons tho market is very quiet. That the pedigree stock grown in the Manawatu district is well advertised abroad is evident by the number of buyers who visit this district from other parts in search of new blood. An Australian buyer- for Jerseys has bear inspecting most of the well-known herd!, with a view to infusing new blood into his stud, and that he is in search of tho very best is proved by the fact that he offered X5OO for a pair of heifers from the herd of Mr. R. L. Horn, of Manakau, though without success. The heifers are only eighteen months old, and have already been so successful in tho show ring that their owner- has decided to continue showing them. Professor Wing, of the Cornell University. who visited most of the shows in New Zealand last year, in a letter to the president of the New Zealand Friesian Society, mentioned the fact that tho Friesian herd at the University was practically all bred up from one cow. With reference to American cattle, the professor considered that the typo had been neglected too much in favour of production, and that many faults in the ehapo had been condoned. JJe said that after twenty years of talking tq farmers, and pointing out the advantages of herd testing, ho was forced to admit that he had made very little progress. Even where they provided officials to <so the weighing and sampling for the farmer the advance was unsatisfactory. The average production per cow in the New York State was a little lower than in New being about 1801 b. of but-ter-fat per cow. Dealing with abortior in cows, the writer stated that from his experience carbonate of soda, or, better still, carbonate of potash, used with a mild disinfectant, previous to service, had been effective.