STOCK NOTES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCIII, Issue 10650, 10 May 1895, Page 2

STOCK NOTES.

[by TUSSOCK in “ CAIITEKBUP.Y TiMBS,”] The afeeep market shows no sign of improvement, but farmers have, apparently, accepted tho situation, and have given up trying to sell their snoop, the entries at the country markets showing a marked falling off. As there ia very iiule grass for winter feed, and not many turnips, a good deal of land has been sown with Cape barley and oats, and these, with the aid of a few bushels of tonpenny oats, should help strek through the winter. Uvilesa the sheep market gets lower than ajjyono can reasonably expect, there must bo moaoy in keeping sound breeding owes ana other good sorts through the winter, As is usual at this time of year, there is an inquiry for good turnip aheap, but the prices offered are very low compared to those of last year.

One of the leading firms in Sydney advises sheep-breeders to restrict their consignments to the coming fair to small and si loch lots of rams. It ia not anticipated that thebe will be a market for more then half last year’s number; prices will bo lower for good sheep, and poor ones may not be saleable at any price, The reasons are the unsatisfactory result of last year’s cross-breeding, tho fall in cross-bred wool, and the general tightness of money. Thera is also the four of a drought, the autumn rains not having come yet, while the season ia far advanced and the cold weather approaching, when rain will bo ineffectual to make tho grass grow, I notice the Pastoralists’ Review also warns, loagwool Eheop-braedors that tha market will be easily glutted, and that it is requisite that consignments shall bo of good quality. Entries for tho Now South Wales Sheepbreeders’ show close on June 7. The show is to fcs held on Juno 29 and J uly 1 and 2, and the prizes are liberal. The Wellington Post of May 1 says: u By the Takapuna this morning there were brought from Auckland 127 Southdown stud rams and 20 Southdown stud ewes, chipped by Nolan and Hunter, to bo forwarded to Christchurch under the auspices of the New Zctdcad Loan and Mercantile Agency Company. Some 550 aheap will be shipped at Wellington for Sydney to-morrow by Mr Scales, acting for J. Burrows, Wairavapa. In consequence of the low rates ruling in tha Sydney market for cheep at the present time, no large shipments will be forwarded from tha colony until about Juno, vrhen large shipments will, be sent over by the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Laory and Company, and other chipper*. About 6000 sheep are now being kept back by one firm and simply used for grazing purposes until a hoalthkr tone prevails ia'tha Australian market.” Tho sheep referred to ia this wonderful paragraph aa brought down by the Takapuna were Shropshire Downs, part of Mr Every M’Lean’a flock, consisting of nea vly fa vo hundred beau, which was bought right out by Messrs A. Maccarlauo, of Achray, D. D. Macffirlane, of Lyndon, and C, Newton, Stoke Grange. Tha sheep were sent to the chow grounds to be drafted for their respective destinations. They are disappointing in appearance, being iu very poor condition—very different iu this respect to the Eoglish Laicesfcers Mr M’Lean'used to send us. However, the blood ia there, and I trust the Shropshire!! will be of as good service to this district as the Lsieastars have been. Account sales are published of two of the consignments of fat bullocks to London per steamer Bchuca. Ou account of Messrs Dangar Brothers, 27 head were chipped, of which two died. The 25 were Bold at an average of £‘il 12s Id per head; the London charges were .£2 9s 2d per head on the,2s head, and the Sydney charges £9 15s'Id ou 37 head. Tho ret return was £7 19a 6d per head for the 27 bend shipped. Tho cattle were valued in Sydney at £4> 10s a head. One of tho line of two-tooth crops-bred wethers sold at Addington a fortnight ago by tho New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, on account of Mr D, Gunn, Mothven (by whom they wore bred and grazed) was shown in the shop of Mr Knight, High Street, on Saturday, und weighed, dressed, 1261 b, I notice that the Sydney Mail reproduces the Canterbury Times' illustration and description of Mr W. B, Clarkson’s sheep yards at Masham Lodge, Hornby.. Tho recent sales in England and Scotland have gone much in favour of the

Polled Allows. These have more nearly maintained last year’s prices ■ than the shorthorns have done, in fact, some herds have increased their average, and the demand, both for home uoo arid for export has been steadier. At the Birmingham shorthorn (show and sale, in March, the twenty-seventh annual, the entries. I road in the Field , showed an agreeable diminution, the total for bulls, cows and heifers failing sixteen short of four handled. The total is still too largo for trade to maintain a healthy activity, especially when the very ordinary merit of a large proportion of the exhibits is taken into consideration. The modified entry has, unfortunately, failed to raise the average standard, of the animals presented. Never, perhaps, was there a heavier percentage of moderate and inferior bulls scon at this show than was witnessed this year. Whatever the blood may be, certainly there were many animals offered whoso proper place was in the fattening courts. They might have been been good rent-payers in the steer byres; •as bulls they injure the broad p-nd incur, loss to their breeders. The cows and heifers ware, generally speaking, a level, useful lot—decidedly more useful than fancy in appearance.