Farm and Station

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXXI, Issue 12398, 10 November 1934, Page 12

Farm and Station

FUTURE OF THE PIG INDUSTRY; • : i ' , . . PORK EXPORT STILL IS UNCERTAIN. T HE POSSIBILITY OF QUOTA. The prospects of the pig industry ■so far as the possibility of quota restrictions is concerned, are changing almost from week to week, "and no reliable information is available except' that no drastic steps are likely to he taken before the end of the year. It is rather comforting, however, that exporters appear to bp pursuing a. more or less normal buying programme which can only ho taken as an indication 'that no drastic changes need be feared in the immediate future, and it is to he hoped that these anticipations [will be realised, (.states a leading article in “The New Zealand Dairyman. *• Although quotations show slight variations, there is a decided upward tendency which would! probably he even more pronounced were it not for a certain amount of doubt and uncertainty that exist in somo quarters. One price schedule which came under notice . recently quotes porkem under SOIL at Cd a lb., which is $d in advance of last year’s prices, while baconers, 121 to 1601 b., are quoted at sd, showing an advance of approximately fd a. lb. Heavier porkers and second's are also quoted at a. similar advance compared with last year. The higher prices quoted are duo to the firm tone of the London market, which, in turn, reflects the drastic reductions in (shipments from foreign countries.

MARKET FOR BACONERS. The market for baconers if not nuite so active and is, no doubt, influenced hv the advice of a heavy increase in Home supplies, it being ronorted that large' quantities have been contracted for bv Home growers with cure vs. With further restricUons of foreign supplies there is, however, a. possibility of an improve- 1 - ment in the market for baconers. Tt was certainly unfortunate, to say the least, that scare was created’ in the onrlv paid o p the season which must have been influenced a' large number of ' dairvfarmors in setting . out their wear’s programme. Whether it acted as a material check on the season’s output ’rill nnlv be seen at a later date. The financial nosition of *fhe average producer is too precarious to wtthrtand Too many shocks o f til’s kind and extreme caution should be shown bY those in control when making statements and taking actions in a time of crisis.

FREE EXPANSION WANTED. Tt- is estimated that; the pig industry last 'season contributed 1 to lid a- lb hutterfa-t to the revenue of the average New Zealand dnirvfarmer. and these figures will no doubt be doubled within the next three Years if be is given a Tree and unhindered ♦nepausion of the industry, Tt is rather tragic to think that after all those roars of struggling development all his Tjnst efforts should ho TvroimTit to nauo-ht hv the exnorfc refrictions imnosod hv a market that has been free and 1 was at hie disposal for ns long as he can remember. TTow<wpr, there as still hope and certain allowances can safely be made for the quota-complex which some of our industrial and political leaders appear to have developed l both here and abroad. There is. also hope that’ tho dangers of the extreme regime and agricultural dictatorship of Major Elliott will, -sooner or later, reach its climax in Great. Britain, states the article, and the reaction will-certain-ly be for a. return- of more normal trade within the Empire.

BLENDING OF BUTTER

REFORM WANTED IN ENGLAND

Objection to the blending of Empire and foreign butters on the British market has been made recently in New Zealand and the question is also being discussed in England. According to an English correspondent, there is a movement, sponsored by the Conservative Parliamentary Agricultural Committee and the Empire Industries’ Association for stricter regulations of the marking of blended butters. The writer states: “The only requirement under the present marking, order i,s that blended* butter containing foreign butter should hear the inscription,, ‘Containing imported butter.’ no name of origin being required. This mearns that a 1 though ‘straight’ foreign butters must be marked ‘foreign’ and Empire butters marked ‘Empire,’ a blend of the two, even whom it is overwhelmingly foreign, need only be marked ‘containing imported,’ so that the English housewife is frequently and easily deceived about what -she is buying. “Sir Basil Peto, a West Country M.P., recently drew the -attention of the Minister of Agriculture, Mr AY. Elliot, to the fact that Russian huttor imported into Britain iwa.s never retailed as such hut was blended with other blitters and sold under-various names which gave no indication of tho country of, -origin. Mr Elliot replied that it was impossible at present to introduce legislation making obligatory the full description of the origin of component parts of blendted butter. Tt may ho taken for granted, however, that the matter will again he brought up when Parliament reassembles this month.”

(By “RUSTIOUS")

FARMS’ OF THE FUTURE. MACHINERY GUIDED 'WITHOUT HUMAN HANDS! CHICAGO, Oc;t. 1. Farmer Bill, a. robot, sits on tho front porch of Ids farm cottage at a Century of Progress, reading tho morning newspaper Out in the halfacre field front of the house, his radio-controlled tractor does the work •

“Come in close, friendy,” calls Farmer Bill, as lie puts down his newspaper somewhat jerkily. The visitors crowd up to tho fence, unable to figure out how the tractor unaided by human hands, moves forward turns corners and continues its day’s work. Then the proud farmer, in a comfortable rockhig chair, 'swings leisurely hack and forth behind the rod geraniums fringing the porch, and gives to- Jiis inquisitive visitors -somo hints about tho mysterious red orchard tractor and 1 some glimpses into farming of the future.

“Notice, friends, there is no steering wheel on mv tractor, and no seat,” Farmer Bill explains with a few twitches of his stiff hands. “Just a little radio receiving set on top with its aluminium antenna. You peoplo out there are nearer to the tractor than I am, lint you can’t control it. Do you want to isoe those front wheels turn left? I’ll show you.” In a few moments, to the left they go—then to the right—then straight ahead, ard Farmer Bill leans hack again in his chair, proud of his performing tractor. Leaving Farmer Bill on the front porch, and islipp-rng into the back door of the little cottage will soon unravel the mysteries of this exhibit of the International Harvester Company. Three engineers sit at tho hay window, invisible to the crowd, hut able to watch everything that is going on outside. They are operating a. radio apparatus. Whenever a few people, wandering down tho avenue, look interested, they send out an invitation, through Farmer Bill, to wtop up and see “the new radio-controlled tractor.”

One man operates a transmitter which is a small type of short wave broadcasting station. The tractor outside-, is equipped with a receiving 'set, which picks up signals from the transmitter and converts them through relays into power instead of sound. Thus energy is transmitted to 'the tractor, an engineer explains, as music is sent to a receiving set in a home radio.

BONELESS BEEF-

DUMPING IN AUSTRALIA ALLEGED.

If 'tho agitation of New South AVales stock owners is successful, New Zealand may find vet another outlet for its export, of boneless beef closed. Since New Zealand undertook, following tho Ottawa conference, to reduce her supplies of boned meat, to the United Kingdom, producers have been finding a market for large quantifieiß in Australia. “Country Life,” the official organ of the Graziers’ Association of Now South AVales and many other important primary producers’ organisations, in a recent, issue declared that, “stock owners of New South AVales ore face to face with a new peril.” The article states that the Sydney meat market is lining glutted, not only with moat from Queensland', and cheap, low-grade pieces and meat sundries from outside the metropolitan area, but- also .with an avalanche of boneless meat from New Zealand. Between August 23 arid September 15, the article continues, 43,1061 b of veal pieces and 46,0611 bof porlc pieces were unloaded l on to the Sydney market, an operation that is desseribed as “foisting the Dominion’s inferior meat on Australia.” The journal fears that this is only the beginning of a -sparkling new trade for the Dominion.

“Dumping of any inferior meat on the Sydney market must undermine Homebush and fat stock prices generally. ‘Country Life’ insists that this new torrent of trouble shall bo shut out from Australia, quick and lively”, the article concludes.

PIG MANURE A GOOD FERTILISER.

PRO.ATOTE3 STRONG RYEGRASS GROWTH.

Few people realise the great value of pig manure for fertiliser purposes, yet it is really infinitely superior to ordinary farmyard manure. Since it liag a tendency to contain live seeds, it is advisable to allow it to rot in a heap before applying it to the land, but in this form it is a powerful stimulant for growth, particularly useful for poor, light soil, states the “New Zealand Dairy Exporter.” Pig manure promotes strong ryegrass growth, and there is a striking illustration of this on a Henderson (Auckland) farm, -which was at ono time conin'derod almost worthless and -suitable only for fruit farming. Tho o,wuor had a .largo piggery which .houses close on 900 pigs at a. time., and the quarters a r e , flushed out -daily, the liquid running into a, huge concrete-receptacle. Here it is strain-ed,-the solid! matter being isledged out on. .to ground that is to bo ploughed, while the liquid is distributed with a- watering cart over whichever paddock is to bo treated. The result is a pasture which compares very favourably with that of good grasis country, and the owner’s light land problem,is solved.

THE! DEHORNING OF ADULT ' CATTLE. MOST PAINFUL OPERATION EXPERTS SAY; SEVERE SUFFERING ENTAILED. Some interesting facts concerning the dehorning of cattle are contained in a letter forwarded to Mr Clyde C'arr, M.P., by Mr F. MacCamn, secretary to the Royal Society for tho Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, London. In the letter it is stated that tho opinion at Homo is that tho dohoTning of adult cattle is probably the most painful operation- one can perform on am animal, and Mr MacCann (states that bis society cannot believe that the New Zealand Government would wish to pass legislationthat would impose the severo -suffering dehorning of full-grown cattle outail'S, when it its quite simple to dehorn animals when calves.. Mr MacCann encloses veterinary expert’s opinion on dehorning. It states that dehorning adult cattle is probably the most painful operation one can perform on an .animal, and tho pain does not cease at tho termination of tho operation. Drastic measures' have to ho taken' to prevent or check haemorrhage, and the base is left tender and highly sensitive for a week or two, and every touch or knock causes pain, and very acute pain. In consequence of tho continual pain, the operation should never he performed unions circnmistancos render it a necessary surgical operation for the relief of the ainimnl and then under an anaesthetic with daily treatment afterwards to relieve paim. With regard l to tho uso of tho cattle dehorner, this would not to any appreciable extent minimise the suffering, as cutting through the nerves i!n the horn would be painful, bowover if wore done. Even if an anaesthetic wore used, the animal would suffer after the affect of the anaesthetic was removed.

The subject, states Mr MnrCann. was also referred io Lt.Ool. P. .T. Simpson. D.S.P.. T.D., F.R.C.V.S., president of the National Veterinary ■ Medical Association of Great Britain, who considered it a very cruel piece 1 of work. Tt one wished to convey to the lav mind the amount of pain inflicted, lie could' compare it to sawing through the nail and quick of the human finger. This description fi a faithful one, more especially in the case nf older animals, and one must add the pain inflicted in sawing through a bony core. Hiq personal opinion was that it was one of the most painful surgical interferences that, could bo done without the use of a. general Anaesthetic. “It is 'sometimes contended that dishorned eat,tie are normal within 24 hours of the dishorning being performed.” writes Air MncCann. “We cannot agree that this is the ease, hut possibly on account of the animals feeding in quite the normal way, it, is maintained that the pain is not felt after the lapse of that period. I would! point out that tho fact that an animal feeds is no proof that it is not sufferilng. For instance, we know from the late war that horses mortally wounded on the battlefield would crop grafis, although they died within the space of a. few hours. There is no doubt that animals do this in order to relieve tfheir sufferings, and I tlu’nk that the argument about normality occurring within that 24 hours is based on the assumption that as the animals feed they must he without pain.”

CATTLE MYSTERY

DISEASE INQUIRY AT HOME. Somerset farmers hare lost many cattle n s a result of a mysterious rlj\seaso which attacks animals after grazing, at. certain times of the year on lands in mid-Somerset known as “Tearfc Lands.” Now the Agricultural Advisory Department of tho University of Bristol is to make an exhaustive investigation of tho “mystery.” Salts in the ground were thought to he tho trouble, but investigation proved that this wa s not the cbfc . Superstitious Somerset folic say that the disease will always bo prosdnt, for it. resulted from a. farmer’s indiscretion, “in the old, old days,” when he galloped liis horse into a witches’ circle and; upset their cauldron.

All farmers— suponsti-tfous or not—agree that the disease is very mysterious and welcome the investigation,, for they cannot foretell the precise time when the grass will hecomo poisonous.

A FARMERS’ SHOP. T have watched with deep interest many farmers’ retailing ventures during the past fifteen years (remarks a Homo correspondent). Sad to relate, most of them have failed—including some which I was financially interested. I am mob now speaking of milk retailing, but a scheme primarily run for the sale of meat, poultry and general produce. One such scheme, which after many vicissitudes ultimately proved a great success has points of interest. This was a shop started! b.v a, farmer in a town some four or five miles from his farm. For year s tho business struggled along and tho net result was that the produce sold would have produced mere had it been sold in open market. Then a- new manager was appointed. Ho contended that it was wrong t try to run a. shop to sell tho. more or las s irregular supplies that the farm wanted to market and that to be successful any business must soli what the public wanted to buy. From that timo tho shop was run on entirely new lines, and 'the manager given a free hand to buy outside tho farm. Tho farm now gives tho manager a list every week-end of exactly what produce can ho supplied during the following week, and this the shop has to take;. The manager then plans .his buying on quite independent lines, and arranges his istock according to his estimate of requirements. For some years now, under this new plan, the shop hds been an unqualified (success,