MANAWATU FARMS

Dominion, Volume 15, Issue 12, 8 October 1921, Page 3

MANAWATU FARMS

PLENTIFUL FEED FOR STOCK IMPROVEMENT OF DAIRY HERDS From Our Own Correspondent. Palmerston North, October 7. Feed prospects continue to improve throughout the whole of the district, and grass is plentiful and full of nutriment. The result is that the cows are now in full flush, and the factories report plentiful supplies of milk of excellent quality. The general opinion is that the present spring is the best that the district has experienced for many years. There has been, marvellous improvement in the appearance of the pastures between Wellington and Palmerston North, more especially in the vicinity of Waikanae and Otaki.. The sandy country between Foxton and Rangiotu has never looked better, being covered with a verdant green, while the Rangitikei and Marton districts and all around Palmerston North are looking extremely well. .In the agricultural districts around Marton and Rangitikei an even larger acreage than usual has been put under the plough, but farmers are looking for rain to give the spring-sown crops a start. The conditions of all stock is improving daily. Some fairly large lines of forward steers aro to be seen in various pastures, while there are many lots of fat bullocks and steers. With the poor prospects for beef in the London market, the outlook for these is not promising. There are buyers in the district—at a price—but their highest offer for eighteen to twenty-month-old steers is 255., and those who can hold are naturally disinclined to sell at that figure, although some of them could be tempted for very little more. It is quite possible that some lines of fat bullocks will be shipped to the South Island to try the market there, which is showing signs of improvement.

In spite of the increased feed prospects, there are but few inquiries for either store sheep or cattle, and ewes with black-faced . lambs are about the only sheep changing hands. Pedigree arid high-class grade cows of approved milking strains coming in this season meet a good demand, as dairymen all round are out to improve their herds, but heifers and cows which do not fulfil these requirements are neglected. The unsatisfactory news as to the butter market at Home, although welcome to local consumers at the moment, is causing dairy companies a good deal of concern. While the general opinion is that matters will right themselves as soon os the commandeered butter is off the market, most of the companies are considering the question of reducing the advances made on butter-fat for the remainder of the season. So far as cheese is ooheerned, quite a number of factories who rejected offers of llld. for the season’s output are regretting their decision.

During the past week a couple of the leading Jersey breeders in the Palmerston North district have added' to their studs by purchasing several bulls and cows at Taranaki sales, including some from the Kaponga herd, and others from Mr. C. Coulter’s Blenheim stud. From a run round the district it is evident that the dairy farmers are making preparations for green feed in the event of a dry autumn, which quite a number of pessimistic individuals are predicting. On every hand land is being sown with turnips and rape, while a fair area is being put in maize, and thousand-headed kale is also being sown. Quite a number are preparing land for that dependable stand-by, lucerne, the importance of growing which Mr. Deem, agricultural instructor for the Department, is always urging on farmers. ■ He asserts that farmers do not realise its value as a fodder plant. With a view to assisting them, he has prepared a pamphlet’on lucerne culture, in which he goes very fully into the whole matter.