FARM AND STATION

Gisborne Times, Volume LVIII, Issue 9690, 11 May 1923, Page 2

FARM AND STATION

DAIRYING BOOM. A PHENOMENAL SEASON. VALUE OF OUTPUT EXCEEDS £16,000,000. SOME OF THE CAUSES. New Zealand has just passed through a phenomenally good dairy season, and as far a.s production goes there is every reason to believe that though there is a drop in prices at present, next season will be good. The present . season has been above normal in the matter of the growth of grass. For the August-March periorUvo had an increase of just about if-!- per cent, in butter-fat production over the same period in the preceding year, which, 'bv the way, showed a splendid increase over the 1920-21 season. I ho increase this year has been in butter rather than in cheese, and this has been due to the fact that so many of the large dairy companies in New Zealand have dual-plant ’factories, and last year they made butter till about November, after which they turned on to cheese for a while, but in February and March a number of them reverted to tho manufacture of butter. The remarkable increase in the output of butter has been a result of an increase in the output of individual factories rather Limn a result of an increase in the number of factories. Owing to the arrival of unexpected quantities of milk and cream, the manufacturing capacity of many of ; he L\"L-s was taxed to the utmost ( ;re e.. y, and some had r.o resort to do.-Ve shift-: to enable them to handle Ac euani'ilies being delivered. The value oi the dairy output rose last season over 1 .6, (Hill.()()(). The outlook lor next season is good so far as production is concerned, limb deneuds, however, on the kind of spring we have, and on the comparative prices .which rule in the. near future. FROZEN BEEF. NEW ZEALAND NOT QEOTEDFnr three weeks in succession the High Commissioner has been unable to furnish a quotation for New Zealand frozen beef, notwithstanding Una; the shipments from New Zealand since the beginning of the year have been up to the average. The fact of the matter is that South American beef is in excess of' requirements. and as it: is being forced into sale the prices are very low. Argentine chilled lores 160-220 lb are quoted. at 3d to B.ld. and chilled hinds at o'al to 6.1(1, and Argentine frozen fores at 22(1 and frozen hinds at 5(1. The shipments of frozen and chilled beef during the first three months oi tho year from the three principal exporting countries are as iollows: —

There is an increase for the throe months of 371,680 quarters, the bulk of which has been sent forward by Soul h America. The South American shixiineuts during the month of March totalled 640,600 quarters, ns compared wiih 1:13,160 quarters -in February, and -109.100 quarters in •January. Tin 1 chilled heel trade of South America is affecting the market for frozen beef, but there are. not wanting signs teat: demands of other countries on the Argentine will tend to lessen the inv.-.suro on London, it i> stall'd that an agreement lias been concluded between franco and the Argentine, '.vimreby meat will bo imported direct by France in French vessels, in exchange fur meat purchases. Argentine undertakes to give orders to Fr.m-v for metal goods to an amount at least equal to half the sum paid by France for the meat. This, o fcourse, gives Argentine a preferential position in the Continental markets, at the flame time the removal of a certain quantity of South American beef iron: the British market, may ease the position for Australia and Now Zealand. WHAT COXS'ITTiWES THE IDEAL BACON PIG? In view of the fact that so many of the pigs put on the market are far from being the economical type of bacon pig, it may be well to draw atti'iition to a lew points which, if borne in mind when choosing ail animal for breeding, would improve the general standard of our bacon production and, incidentally, create a more favorable demand. A pig that is very long in the head is usually narrow between the eyes, is apt to err as regards constitution, and has rather more bone than is required. On the other hand, the pig that is very short in the nose is usually too fat, too heavy in tlie fore end, thick in the neck and heavy in the shoulders. A neat head means one that is neither too long nor too short m the nose, and the ears should lie fairly long, soft, and pliable. The neck and shoulder. —The less of these parts (within reason) the better. The lighter the neck and shoulder the better the side.

Mil's are apt to bo deficient in depth and thickness in the heart region and in the spring of the ribs. These are features which are perhaps the most valuable of those that may be enumerated. In the brood sow and boar these characteristics should he well developed. A pig with a thick loin is almost sure to be well ribbed and possess a strong constitution. This qualification is most essential.

Stout thighs mean well-developed hams, the latter being the most important part of the animal, especially when not too fat.

The animal must not he. too long in the log ; 'otherwise, the ham may be too flat and lacking in plumpness. Long and silky hair is a characteristic usually indicative of strength of constitution and lean meat. Paucity of hair generally proceeds from too close breeding, and often produces a tendency to excessive fatness. A long side of medium depth, with thick flank, completes the definition. An animal with the characteristics described should ho aimed at, whether pedigree, crossbred, or no particular breed. The best price for animals of this class is usually obtained when a weight of about 160 to 1801 b alive lias been readied*—which should be in about six and a-half to seven months. If the feeding also is carefully studied, tlio result should be a carcase of bacon uniform in type and quality. NOTES. “Out our way we have to keep three goats to one cow,” remarked Mr H. Lcpper at the discussion with the Valuer-General (Mr F. W. Flanagan) with regard to the recent land valuations (states the Taranaki Nows). “The goats have to pave the way so that the cow can, got at the grass," lie added, amidst laughter. “You are libelling your district, surely,” Mr •Flanagan rejoined.

1023. 1922. Qrs. Qrs. South America . 1.468,850 1,114.984 Now Zealand 134.956 48,460 Australia. 9,836 88,512 ! .623,642 1.251,956