FARMS AND FARMERS

Greymouth Evening Star, 7 February 1939, Page 9

FARMS AND FARMERS

ITEMS OF INTEREST

'(By

"Rouseabout”)

MARKETING OF EGGS.

GOVERNMENT SUPERVISION.

For many, years conditions under which eggs are marketed in New Zealand have required attention and the lack ot 1 some central body (with sufficient authority to influence marketing has been felt by producers, states the annual report of the Internal Marketing Department. The main problem with egg marketing is the “flush” period, approximately from September to January, during which time egg-production is at. its highest. As a consequence, prices are at their lowest at this period, and the absence of any co-or-dinating body allows unrestricted transfers of supplies to markets which are unable to absorb them at prices' payable to the producer. Thus the advantage to the poultry-keeper of the period of highest production has been largely nullified by the low prices received. A further factor is that of production by domestic flocks which, mainly due to unscientific rearing, come into production at this period, and thus accentuate the marketing difficulty. For these reasons, the Division has rendered assistance to the poultry industry in the following manner: —

Last season the Division supervised and handled the export of eggs from New Zealand by giving a guarantee of 1/1 per dozen in grading-store for all eggs exported. This action was taken in order to ensure that a minimum selling-price could be assured to the producers so far as tire local market was concerned, and, whilst a comparatively small quantity of eggs was actually exported, the effect upon the market as a result of such export immediately made itself apparent. I‘ Tho net result of the transactions show that sales realisations 'were short by £468 of the amount paid to suppliers. In view of the fact that quantities for the ensuing season will be> greater even than last year, the Division will continue its activities in this direction. The Division’s supervision of the marketing of egg-pulp is one of the main factors affecting local prices. Care was taken to see that the demands for export and for egg-pulp did not conflict. Merchants were requested to refrain from fulfilling their 1 equirements of winter pulp until after exporting had ceased, thus giving a continuity of market stabilisation. From the consumers’ viewpoint, the manufacture of qgg-pulp is important, on account of the fact that this. pulp largely provides for the requirements of bakers and manufacturers during winter period, when prices of fresh eggs are high. If manufacturers and bakers were in the open market for fresh eggs at this period, the result would be that prices would rise even higher. It might be mentioned at this point that the generally increased prosperity within New Zealand resulted in a far stronger demand for eggs during the period when prices normally bej'gin to rise, that is at the beginning of the Winter months.

Investigations are being continued with the object of improving the marketing conditions.

T.B. IN DAIRY COWS.

NEW ZEALAND’S TWO PER CENT.

The freedom of New Zealand dairy cows from tuberculosis was mentioned by Mr. B. Clearwater at a meeting of the Southland provincial executive of the Farmers’ Union, when the following remit was discussed: That before being offered for sale all pedigree cattle be tested for tuberculosis. Mr. Clearwater said that the Department of Agriculture had tested 2200 cattle in the last nine months, and only two per cent, of these had been infected with tuberculosis. According to statements made from time to time, there was an impression that New Zealand cattle were badly affected by the disease’. Dr. John Hammond, who had been brought to New Zealand by the Government, six months ago, to investigate disease in cattle, had found that New Zealand was practically free of tuberculosis in its herds. The figures were just about two per cent., and there was one district in Southland that was practically clear of it. Air. G. R. Herron said he bad asked Dr. Hammond how New Zealand dairy cpws compared with cattle in Great Britain for tuberculosis, and his ,reply was that New' Zealand was’ very deal' indeed, compared 'with Britain. The percentage in the thousands , of cows he. had tested in both islands was very low —about two per cent. In some provinces in Britain the percentage was almost as high as 40. “Therefore you will see that reports that New Zealand dairy cows are badly affected are very much exaggerated,” Air. Herron added. “A big proportion of the herds in Southland is absolutely free of the complaint.” ' Tho speaker said he had beeu informed that the department paid compensation at the rate of half the market value of any rejected cow, provided it was over 12 months and under eight years of age. It was decided to support the remit.

BUY GOOD RAMS. Whether a flock is purebred or crossbred, there is nothing surer than that one cannot use a ram that is too good. Money spent, within reasonable limits, on a good ram, will be more than repaid by the increased value of the progeny. Before buying rams it is advisable to see the type of ewes from which they have beer.

bied. A prospective buyer will b< welcomed by any breeder that if proud of his flock, and the buyer wil be more than repaid for tire journey When selecting rams, make sure o character and constitution first, thei look for as symmetrical a body a: possible, well covered with wool o even strength and quality to suit the requirements of the. flock. Do not t’ai to handle a ram before purchasing because the wool can be trimmed ir such a way that the inexperiencebuyer may be deceived in respect o: the animal's true merits. The nee. and tail of the animal selected shouk be such as will give the hand some thing to grip, the back should b broad, and the ribs well sprung These points are desirable in all ram; but in the case of rams for siring t lambs they are essential.

PRODUCE STORAGE.

NEW CHEMICAL PROCESS

IT the claims made by Dr. H. A. Jay, medical specialist, ot Durban, South Africa, are substantiated, it will be possible to store and transport fruit and vegetables for almost indefinite periods without deterioration.

Explaining how the process was applied, Dr. Jay said that the boxes of fruit or vegetables—including potatoes —’Were placed on a raised' platform in a store room, sufficient space being left at floor and ceiling to place one chemical below the platform and suspend another from the ceiling. As scon as the door closes the live chemicals, which, bad an affinity for cadi other, like the anode and cathode of !an electric plating bath, set up a slow I chemical action, during which a colI ourless and perfectly harmless gas ' was given off. This saturated and coated the fruit, which would then keep for long periods' without refrigeration, and in perfect condition. Dr. Jay, who has received tempting offers from all over the world for the right to use his process, says that he hopes to negotiate with the Union Government, and so reserve the benefits largely for his adopted country, lie. is particularly anxious' that in the event of the process being used by any other country, the produce so preserved will not compete on a South African market, and that the process shall be sold solely on that understanding. Dr. Jay explained that the use of his process for sea transport would not involve structural alterations to ships. The fruit would be put iutj wrappers treated with chemicals, and packed in ordinary export cases which, after being subjected to a 24hour treatment in a specially-prepar-ed store, could be shipped as ordinary cargo. Fruit thus treated, he claimed, would keep or two and a-half months in perfect condition, after which it would be possible to keen it almost indefinitely by subjecting it to repeated treatments at intervals. “Originally,” said Dr. Jay, “I intended my process solely for storing fruit over long periods, but I now find that the wrapper method is as infallible as the storage system. Large amounts 'Will be saved on freightage by the employment of the scheme and there will be no need for special freezing plants or cool on ships.’

The cost of the chemicals for a storage room 90ft long by 40ft wide is said to be only £2 a yeai.

WATER AND FEED.

REQUIREMENTS OF STOCK.

It is doubtful whether sufficient allowance is made for the increaseu quantity of water existing in the grass during a continuance of wet weather, as compared with the amount of water during fine, dry weather.

It is still more doubtful whether, in changing stock from a ration consisting mainly of grass' to a ration including a large proportion of roots, such as turnips and swedes, sufficient allowance of dry food is provided to compensate for the much larger quantity of water contained in the roo + s compared with the much smaller proportion of water contained in permanent pas'ture. Sheep under normal conditions seldom desire to drink water, except during long continued periods of drought, and grass is much the more natural food under the circumstances. Turnips or swedes are of such a 'watery nature that some dry food should be added if the animals are to be expected to put on flesh and fat when exposed to cold weather.

In every 1001 b respectively there is the following amount of dry material —namely, in turnips only 8.96, in swedes 10.35, in mangolds 11.93, in meadow grass in wet weather 16.38, and in meadow grass in ordinary dry fine weather 27.061 b. Anyone can therefore understand that both cattle and sheep require a. certain amount ot additional dry food when out on grass during a long spell of extremely wet weather. GOOD PASTURE.

A cow that is on good pasture will consume 110 to 1201 b of grass per day, which would supply to her body about 231 b of dry matter and about eight gallons of water. Provided the pastille contains a reasonable amount, of mineral matter, a cow fed on the-c pastures is being fed with enough material to make between 2 to 21 gallons of milk per day, according to the thriftiness of the animal. It will be realised that upon ordinary good pasture of this kind, a cow that is giving over, say 2 to 21 gallons per day requires an extra amount of milkmaking material to prevent her robbing her system. As she cannot eat any more grass, it. stands to reason that if breeders cannot supply a cow with a much larger stomach, then portion of her food must be supplied in a more concentrated form. In making v-.p combinations of concentrates and roughages, it as well to remember there are, unfortunately, very few foods that alone are able to supply a full range of all necessary esse-n--tials, and therefore the most satisfactory rations must, of necessity, include in their make-up a fair variety cf foods from different plants.

H FIRST MILK FOR CALVES. >, One. of the points which has come ) to light in some work which has been t cariicd out. al the West of Scotland I Agricultural College is that for the .'roaring of healthy calves which will l remain fro- from disease, the feeding t f th- colostrum for the usual four > day? i" not sufficient. ’llie iii'cstt- • gator in charge of the work found ! that feeding for a week was not 100 1 long. “In the experimental work,’ ..says the report, "a greater incidence i'of disease was present in the five i days' group than in the 10 days’ group.“ In other words, nature reasserts herself if we try and deprive . ,the calf of too much of the mother’s ■ food. It is quite on the cards that ; resistance to disease is built up quickly in the first, few works of a :, calf’s life-, and that this; will ho found >fto be of major importance in siock rearing.